Search results
Apr 19, 2018 · n. a drug that has a calming effect and therefore relieves anxiety, agitation, or behavioral excitement by depressing the central nervous system. The degree of sedation depends on the agent, the size of the dose, the method of administration, and the condition of the patient.
- 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.
Apr 28, 2013 · Agent that decreases functional activity, diminishes irritability, and allays excitement. Some have a general effect on all organs. Others principally affect the activities of the heart, stomach, intestines, nerve trunks, respiratory system, or vasomotor system.
- Barbiturates. Barbiturates are a group of drugs derived from a substance known as barbituric acid. Its sedative power on the central nervous system is well known, this being one of its main uses.
- Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are substances whose chemical structure is composed of a benzene ring, which joins another seven-membered heterocyclic ring known as a diazepine.
- Antidepressants. Although antidepressants are known to be the main option in the pharmacological treatment of depression, it is true that some have sedative effects both as a desired effect when addressing an anxiety disorder or some type of psychiatric condition in which the individual is overexcited, or in the form of an unwanted side effect.
- Antihistamines. Antihistamines are known as drugs used in the treatment of allergies., both to reduce its symptoms and to eliminate them. They work by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical substance that is released in the body when an allergic reaction occurs.
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.
The term sedative describes drugs that serve to calm or relieve anxiety, whereas the term hypnotic describes drugs whose main purpose is to initiate, sustain, or lengthen sleep. Because these two functions frequently overlap, and because drugs in this class generally produce dose-dependent effects (ranging from anxiolysis to loss of ...
People also ask
How do sedatives affect the central nervous system?
What are sedatives used for?
Are sedatives a depressant?
What does sedation mean?
What are the different types of sedatives?
What is the difference between sedatives and hypnotics?
Jul 12, 2019 · Sedatives are central nervous system depressants and vary widely in their potency. They are usually in the form of a pill or liquid. Though sedatives are used widely for their medicinal properties, abuse of sedatives can result in dependence and addiction.
