Drug induced comas?

Can humans be safely put into a coma by way of drugs? If so, what
drugs would be used and how long can they be safely kept in a coma?
If there's a time limit, how long do they need to be out of the coma
before being safely put back into one?

I am wanting to know this information for a sci fi story I'm writing.
Essentially, astronauts doing this to themselves to save on oxygen,
water and food (people sleeping consume less of all three) as well as
to just make the space trip fly past faster for them.

If there's a better sci. newsgroup for these questions, please let me
know. I have posted it to sci.bio.misc but if there's another good
one to which to post it, I'd appreciate knowing it.

Thanks in advance!

Scott

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: This newsgroup dirty secret
    ... Recomendign people get drugs of any kind to induce a coma state is not ... and did they have the same delusion? ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: This newsgroup dirty secret
    ... the medical communitity puts people in a coma all the time so ... Hack a brain and learn something better ... You are a junkie-monkey because that's how you come across. ... "connections to get drugs" so I could experiance a coma too. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Drug induced comas?
    ... drugs would be used and how long can they be safely kept in a coma? ... If there's a time limit, how long do they need to be out of the coma ... I am wanting to know this information for a sci fi story I'm writing. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
  • Re: This newsgroup dirty secret
    ... the medical communitity puts people in a coma all the time so ... and whats with this Junkie MONKEE stuff? ... You really don't have to take any drugs to prove what I'm saying just ... Keep spam illegitimate, Report spam to: ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: I finally have the Beatles in 5.1 surround and ( Terra )
    ... Coma? ... heard before, especially on LSD. ... Drugs not only enhance the listening experience but the creative ... - reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs. ...
    (rec.music.beatles)