Doctors say sleep drug 'very safe'

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists has moved to dispel any community concern about a drug implicated in the death of Michael Jackson.

Propofol is listed among a cocktail of drugs reportedly identified in the singer's body but the college says it is "very safe" when used with proper patient monitoring.

"Propofol is used to induce general anaesthesia in nearly every patient having surgery in the developed world," said vice-president associate professor Kate Leslie.

"It is very safe when it is used by an anaesthetist or another doctor who is trained in its use, and in an appropriate environment like a hospital."

Dr Leslie says propofol could induce unconsciousness in a person within about 60 seconds of injection but its effect lasted for only five to 10 minutes.

The prescription-only medicine was also used in small doses for sedation, she said, or to create a "twilight sleep" state in a person.

"However, you still need a trained doctor to take care of you in this situation because propofol has side effects," she said.

"The main problem with propofol and other general anaesthetics is that they impair the patient's ability to keep their airway open."

And if a patient's airway became blocked when they were not properly monitored, Dr Leslie said they would be "unable to move air and they will become asphyxiated".

"If an anaesthetist is present then there is no problem."

- AAP