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- Overview
- What do doctors prescribe sedatives for?
- List of sedatives
- How sedatives affect the body
- Side effects and risks
- Misuse
- Dependency
- Withdrawal
- Summary
Sedatives, or central nervous system depressants, are a group of drugs that slow brain activity. They may help someone feel more relaxed and sleep better. Examples include barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
There has been a recent increase in sedative prescriptions. Doctors prescribe sedatives to treat conditions such as:
•anxiety disorders
•sleep disorders
•seizures
•tension
Sedatives have numerous clinical uses. For example, they can induce sedation before surgical procedures, and this can range from mild sedation to general anesthesia.
Doctors also give sedatives and analgesics to individuals to reduce anxiety and provide pain relief before and after procedures.
Obstetric anesthesiologists may also give sedatives to people experiencing distress or restlessness during labor.
Because of their ability to relieve physical stress and anxiety and promote relaxation, doctors may also prescribe sedatives to people with insomnia, anxiety disorders, and muscle spasms.
Barbiturates
Barbiturates help relieve anxiety and treat seizures. Examples of barbiturates include: •phenobarbital (Luminal) •amobarbital (Amytal Sodium) •butalbital (Fiorinal) •pentobarbital (Nembutal)
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines treat various conditions, including: •panic attacks •insomnia •seizures •depression •painful muscle spasms Examples of benzodiazepines include: •diazepam (Valium) •alprazolam (Xanax) •clonazepam (Klonopin) •lorazepam (Ativan)
Hypnotics
Also known as nonbenzodiazepine sleep medications or Z-drugs, hypnotics are similar to benzodiazepines but cause fewer side effects. Doctors typically use hypnotics to treat sleep disorders. Examples of hypnotics include: •zolpidem (Ambien) •eszopiclone (Lunesta) •zaleplon (Sonata)
Sedatives act by increasing the activity of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This can slow down brain activity in general.
The inhibition of brain activity causes a person to become more relaxed, drowsy, and calm. Sedatives also allow GABA to have a stronger inhibitory effect on the brain.
Although sedatives have intended clinical effects, they may also cause some unwanted short-term side effects, including:
•difficulties with focus and concentration
•memory loss
•slow reaction times
•impaired depth and distance perception
•an inability to feel pain
Misusing sedatives, which means taking them in amounts or ways other than what the doctor prescribed, can have detrimental effects for a person, including overdose.
Combining sedatives with other depressants can cause a combined and much more significant effect. In 2018, 899 people ages 15–24 years died from overusing prescription drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The majority of these deaths occurred as a result of taking benzodiazepines with opioid medications.
One 2017 study suggests that people taking both opioids and benzodiazepines have a higher risk of opioid overdose and emergency room admissions. A similar study suggests that people taking both types of drugs have a 10-fold risk of dying from an overdose compared with those who only take opioids.
Alcohol is another potent depressant that may interact with and increase the effects of sedatives, causing increased sedation and more significant impairment. The effects could slow down or even stop a person’s breathing and heart function.
Some other potential consequences of misuse include:
•impaired function while engaging in activities such as driving
Long-term sedative use can also cause dependence. It is important to note that dependence does not only happen in people who misuse sedatives. It also affects people who take them exactly as the doctor prescribed.
Because their body has become used to the sedative’s effects, a person may also develop a tolerance to the drug or get a reduced effect from it. As a result, they may need higher doses to achieve the same initial effect.
People who suddenly stop taking sedatives may experience withdrawal symptoms. These can happen rapidly, be severe, and even be life threatening. Withdrawal symptoms may appear as early as 12–24 hours after the person’s last dose.
Withdrawal symptoms may include:
•irritability
•hallucinations
•difficulty sleeping
•rapid heart rate
People use sedatives for a variety of clinical purposes. However, these drugs are prone to misuse and may cause severe side effects.
People taking sedatives must communicate with a doctor to prevent adverse side effects, including dependence and withdrawal. People who are planning to take sedatives should first ask a doctor for possible alternatives.
Here’s the best way to solve it. - **Sleep-inducing**: This refers to substances th... Not the question you’re looking for? Post any question and get expert help quickly.
Which of the following terms is the definition of sedative? A) sleep-inducing B) anxiety-reducing C) anti-seizure D) calming
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Mar 14, 2019 · Sedatives are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, a class of medications that slow down brain activity, resulting in feelings of drowsiness or relaxation. Though they're...
