Propofol at a Subanesthetic Dose May Have Abuse Potential in Healthy Volunteers

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Abstract
Ce. Then, for the next three sessions, subjects chose which drug (identified by a color code) they wished to receive. We defined propofol choosers if individuals chose propofol two or three times, and nonchoosers if they chose propofol once or not at all. By using a χ2 goodness-of-fit test of a random choice model, the choice distribution differed significantly from a random choice distribution (P < 0.005). Six subjects were choosers: four subjects chose propofol on all three choice occasions and two subjects chose the drug on 2/3 occasions (referred to hereafter as propofol choosers). Six subjects were nonchoosers: five subjects chose Intralipid® on all three choice occasions, and one subject chose Intralipid® twice (referred to hereafter as propofol nonchoosers). During sampling sessions, propofol choosers reported pleasant acute effects and no unpleasant residual effects, whereas propofol non-choosers reported either unpleasant acute subjective effects and/or residual effects from propofol. We conclude that 1) propofol may be rewarding (reinforcing) in some individuals without a history of drug abuse, and 2) further abuse liability testing is needed with this drug. Address correspondence to James P. Zacny, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, MC 4028, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. Accepted for publication May 14, 1993. © 1993 International Anesthesia Research Society...

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