Propofol for a Good Sleep? Excessive Use of Refreshment Can Lead to Death

Actor Yoo Ah-in Investigated for Habitual Propofol Use
Concerns Over Propofol Abuse Due to 'Hallucination Effects' and 'Refreshing Sensation'
Excessive Use May Cause Respiratory Distress and Cardiovascular Dysfunction

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] It has been revealed that actor Yoo Ah-in was investigated by the police on suspicion of habitual propofol use. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which monitors the distribution of psychotropic drugs, suspected that Yoo Ah-in was being prescribed propofol excessively often and requested a police investigation.

Yoo Ah-in's agency UAA stated on the 8th, "Yoo Ah-in recently underwent a police investigation related to propofol. He is actively cooperating with all investigations and plans to actively clarify any problematic parts," adding, "We apologize for causing concern."

Celebrity propofol illegal use cases surface every now and then. Previously, singer Gain, Wheesung, actors Park Si-yeon, Ha Jung-woo, and others were involved in controversies over propofol use.

Actor Yoo Ah-in. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Propofol, known as the "milk injection" due to its white liquid form, is a type of intravenous anesthetic. It is widely used not only for simple procedures and sedation endoscopy but also for plastic surgery and outpatient surgeries.

It features rapid induction of anesthesia, relatively fewer side effects compared to other anesthetics, and quick recovery. The awakening time from propofol anesthesia is usually 2 to 8 minutes.

Propofol is effective for insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue relief. This is because propofol increases the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a substance in the brain that induces sleep, but at the same time, it paralyzes the brain's dopamine regulation function, causing a large amount of dopamine to be released. Dopamine is a substance that produces a euphoric hallucination effect and is the cause of propofol addiction.

Due to concerns about strong addiction and dependence leading to abuse and misuse, propofol has been classified as a psychotropic drug (narcotic) in South Korea since February 2011. Administering propofol for non-therapeutic purposes is a violation of the Narcotics Control Act.

Propofol is known to cause psychological dependence because it produces a "refreshing feeling as if having had a very deep sleep" when administered. However, misuse can lead to side effects such as respiratory distress or decreased cardiovascular function, which can be fatal.

The cause of death of the world-famous pop singer Michael Jackson in 2009 was cardiac arrest due to excessive administration of propofol. In South Korea, in 2019, an incident occurred where a plastic surgeon in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, overdosed propofol to his girlfriend suffering from insomnia, resulting in her death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.