Did a Sedative Taken for Insomnia Kill Michael Jackson?
The Associated Press reports that Michael Jackson may have suffered insomnia over the past months and in his quest for sleep he may have turned to a powerful and dangerous sedative.
A registered nurse and nutritionist, Cherilyn Lee, worked with Jackson and says she repeatedly rejected his demands for an intravenous drug called Diprivan or Propofol. It is a powerful hypnotic drug that is given intravenously. It is most often used for anesthesia in the operating room and is common in intensive care units to keep patients sedated while they are intubated.
Lee describes Jackson as "desperate" to get some sleep. Propofol is highly effective in inducing unconsciousness, but it is also dangerous. One of its most serious reactions is cardiac arrest, which is the reported cause of the singer's death.
The final results of his autopsy, including toxicology reports, will not be available for a few weeks. If true, this could shed light on the misery and dangers of the most common of sleep disorders.
Follow me on Twitter to receive notice of all the latest updates to this site.
Comments
I’ve suffered from chronic insomnia for almost two years. It is a horrible experience. I can handle an occasional 24 hr. period, but 36 hrs. and 48 hrs. are killers. I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (12 cms), but that is treated with CPAP, and does not keep me awake. My doctors and I are at a loss. I’ve tried medications. The headaches are not worth it. I can understand why Michael Jackson got to the point where he would do anything just to sleep. I’ve thought of Secanol (sp), and Morphine, etc. I am fortunate that I cannot afford any of that.
Isn’t it true that the type of medication Michael Jackson was looking for, is only used in Operating Rooms. Either used with, or
alone, as a general anesthesia. That
is what I’ve read online but I don’t know what to believe anymore! What is
the sleepy medication, doctors give
to you right before you go to the OR?
It’s something they usually put right
in the IV, so it works very fast. Dr.
Peters do you know the name of the med I am describing? If so, could you
please tell me? Thanks so much!
~ Suzy
An addendum to my last post: I forgot
to talk about what I wanted to in the
my previous post. Regarding the sleep
disorder insomnia, I’ve experienced it before, but it would come and go. After my Dad died in 07 I developed a
very odd rare and sometimes embarrassing sleep disorder which is the opposite of Insomnia. This sleep diosrder is known as HyperSomnia. I’d rather have insomnia than this. I can say that w/ having experience on both ends of the sleep disorder spectrum. As I mentioned prior, my dad passed away a couple of years ago and as a result I got depressed. Real Clinical Depression I was dealing with. Also, as a result of the depression came the sleeping disorder, and along with that, came frustration, inpatience and aggravation.
I should also mention about MJ’s insomnia, that expert believe that his lack of Xanax, was a huge factor to MJ’s lack of sleep. Usually Xanax makes one tired, but it was reported that MJ was up to 40 Xanax’s every night, and MJ was finally down to approx. 10-15 pills per night. BTW, he started taking the Xanax in the first place for insomnia and it just turned on him!
There are many medications used to induce sedation or anesthesia for surgeries, and one of these is propofol, as described. There is not one that is specifically used in all circumstances, and the choice may depend on numerous factors.
I have not read about Jackson’s use of Xanax. The maximum daily dose is 4 mg according to my reference materials. If he was using the smallest possible pills, he could take 16. If he was taking more, this suggests significant tolerance and additional potential negligence by his physicians.
Dr. Peters