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Information about Sedative

A sedative is a substance that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety, sleepiness, and slowed breathing, as well as slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. Sedatives may be referred to as tranquilizers, depressants, anxiolytics, soporifics, sleeping pills, downers, or sedative-hypnotics. Sedatives can be abused to produce an overly-calming effect (alcohol being the classic and most common sedating drug). At high doses or when they are abused, many of these drugs can cause unconsciousness (see hypnotic) and even death.

Types of sedatives

Therapeutic use

Doctors and nurses often administer sedatives to patients in order to dull the patient's anxiety related to painful or anxiety-provoking procedures. Although sedatives do not relieve pain in themselves, they can be a useful adjunct to analgesics in preparing patients for surgery, and are commonly given to patients before they are anaesthetized, or before other highly uncomfortable and invasive procedures like cardiac catheterization , colonoscopy or MRI. They increase tractability and compliance of children or troublesome or demanding patients.

Patients in intensive care units are almost always sedated (unless they are unconscious from their condition anyway).

Sedative dependence

All sedatives can cause physiological and psychological dependence when taken regularly over a period of time, even at therapeutic doses. When dependent users decrease or end use suddenly, they will exhibit withdrawal symptoms ranging from restlessness, insomnia and anxiety to convulsions and death. When users become psychologically dependent, they feel as if they need the drug to function although there is no biological dependence. In both types of dependence, finding and using the drug becomes the focus in life. Both physical and psychological dependence can be treated (see Sedative Dependence).

One must always be careful when dealing with the "pam family," that is, the class of sedatives ending with the suffix -pam: clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, etc. This family is especially dangerous because of the likelihood of dependence.

Abuse and overdoses

All sedatives can be abused, but barbiturates and benzodiazepines are responsible for most of the problems with sedative abuse due to their widespread "recreational" or non-medical use. People who have difficulty dealing with stress, anxiety or sleeplessness may overuse or become dependent on sedatives. Heroin users take them either to supplement their drug or to substitute for it. Stimulant users frequently take sedatives to calm excessive jitteriness. Others take sedatives recreationally to relax and forget their worries. Barbiturate overdose is a factor in nearly one-third of all reported drug-related deaths. These include suicides and accidental drug poisonings. Accidental deaths sometimes occur when a drowsy, confused user repeats doses, or when sedatives are taken with alcohol. In the U.S., in 1998, a total of 70,982 sedative exposures were reported to U.S. poison control centers, of which 2310 (3.2%) resulted in major toxicity and 89 (0.1%) resulted in death. About half of all the people admitted to emergency rooms in the U.S. as a result of nonmedical use of sedatives have a legitimate prescription for the drug, but have taken an excessive dose or combined it with alcohol or other drugs.

See also Other non-therapeutical use.

Sedatives and alcohol

Sedatives and alcohol are sometimes combined recreationally or carelessly. Since alcohol is a strong depressant that slows brain function and depresses respiration, the two substances compound each other's actions synergistically and this combination can prove fatal.

Lookalikes

Lookalikes, or pills made to mimic the appearance and the effects of authentic sedatives, are sold on the street. Lookalikes may contain over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines, that cause drowsiness. Like any other drug that is illicitly manufactured and sold, their composition and effects cannot be predicted.

Sedatives and amnesia

Sedation can sometimes leave the patient with long-term or short-term amnesia. Lorazepam is one such pharmacological agent that can cause anterograde amnesia. Intensive care unit patients who receive higher doses over longer periods of time, typically via IV drip, are more likely to experience such side effects.

Sedative drugs and crime

The sedatives GHB, Chloral hydrate, and Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol®) are known for their use as date rape drugs (also called a Mickey), administered to unsuspecting patrons in bars or guests at parties to reduce the intended victims' defenses.

These drugs are also used for robbing people, indeed statistical overviews suggest that the use of sedative-spiked drinks for robbing people is actually much more common than their use for rape. 1

Cases of criminals taking rohypnol themselves before they commit crimes have also been reported, as the loss of inhibitions from the drug may increase their confidence to commit the offence, and the amnesia produced by the drug makes it difficult for police to interrogate them if they are caught.

See also

External links


Sedatives (N05) [ edit]
Chloral Hydrate, Ethchlorvynol, Gamma-butyrolactone, Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Glutethimide, Meprobamate, Methaqualone, Methyprylon, Propofol
Barbiturates - Benzodiazepines - Imidazopyridine - Antihistamines -
 •  • [ e]
Barbiturates (N01AF, N03AA, N05CA)
 •  • [ e]
Benzodiazepines (N05BA, N05CD)
Adinazolam • Alprazolam • Arfendazam • Bentazepam • Bromazepam • Brotizolam • Camazepam • Chlordiazepoxide • Cinolazepam • Clazepam • Clobazam • Clonazepam • Clorazepate • Clotiazepam • Cloxazolam • Cyprazepam • Delorazepam • Diazepam • Doxefazepam • Estazolam • Ethyl loflazepate • Etizolam • Fletazepam • Fludiazepam • Flumazenil • Fosazepam • Flunitrazepam • Flurazepam • Flutazolam • Flutoprazepam • Gidazepam • Halazepam • Haloxazolam • Ketazolam • Lofendazam • Loprazolam • Lorazepam • Lormetazepam • Medazepam • Metaclazepam • Mexazolam • Midazolam • Nimetazepam • Nitrazepam • Nordazepam • Oxazepam • Oxazolam • Phenazepam • Pinazepam • Pivoxazepam • Prazepam • Quazepam • Reclazepam • Ro15-4513 • Temazepam • Tetrazepam • Tofisopam • Triazolam • Zapizolam • Zolazepam
The central nervous system (CNS) represents the largest part of the nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord. Together with the peripheral nervous system, it has a fundamental role in the control of behavior.
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Anxiety is a physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components (Seligman, Walker & Rosenhan, 2001). These components combine to create the feelings that we typically recognize as fear, apprehension, or worry.
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Human gait is the way locomotion is achieved using human limbs. For this article different gaits do not require changes in the geometry of motion, but rather, changes in the contact with the surface (ground, floor, etc).
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ReFLEX is a wireless protocol developed by Motorola which is used for two-way paging. It is based on the one-way FLEX protocol and comes in two variants, ReFLEX25 and ReFLEX50. Later version 2.7 of the ReFLEX protocol was released. Devices compliant with ReFLEX 2.7.
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alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group. The general formula for a simple acyclic alcohol is CnH2n+1OH.
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See also Unconscious mind.


Unconsciousness, more appropriately referred to as loss of consciousness or lack of consciousness, is a dramatic alteration of mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and
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Hypnotic drugs are a class of drugs that induce sleep (which differentiates them from the sedative category), used in the treatment of insomnia and in surgical anesthesia. Often the treatment of insomnia will not begin with drugs at all.
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Death is the permanent end of the life of a biological organism. Death may refer to the end of life as either an event or condition.[1] Many factors can cause or contribute to an organism's death, including predation, disease, habitat destruction, senescence,
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antidepressant, is a psychiatric medication or other substance (nutrient or herb) used for alleviating depression or dysthymia ('milder' depression). Drug groups known as MAOIs, tricyclics and SSRIs are particularly associated with the term.
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Mirtazapine is an antidepressant introduced by Organon International in 1996 used for the treatment of moderate to severe depression. Mirtazapine has a tetracyclic chemical structure and is classified as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA).
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Trazodone (trade names Desyrel, Molipaxin, Trittico, Thombran, Trialodine) is a psychoactive compound with sedative, anxiolytic, and antidepressant properties.
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Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and by virtue of this they produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to anesthesia. Some are also used as anticonvulsants.

Barbiturates are derivatives of barbituric acid.
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Amobarbital (formerly known as amylobarbitone) is a drug that is a barbiturate derivative. It has sedative-hypnotic and analgesic properties. It is a white crystalline powder with no odor and a slightly bitter taste.
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Pentobarbital is a short acting barbiturate that is available as both a free acid and a sodium salt, the former of which is only slightly soluble in water and ethanol.[1] One trade name for this drug is Nembutal®, coined by Dr. John S.
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Secobarbital (marketed by Eli Lilly and Company under the brand names Seconal® and Tuinal) is a barbiturate derivative drug. It possesses anaesthetic, anticonvulsant, sedative and hypnotic properties. In the United Kingdom, it was known as Quinalbarbitone.
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The benzodiazepines (pronounced [ˌbɛnzəʊdaɪˈæzəpiːnz], or "benzos" for short) are a class of psychoactive drugs considered minor tranquilizers with varying hypnotic, sedative, anxiolytic,
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Alprazolam, also known under the trade names Xanax and Niravam, is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat severe anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with clinical depression.
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Clonazepam (marketed by Roche under the trade-names Klonopin in the United States and Rivotril in Europe, South America, Canada, India, and Australia) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative.
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Diazepam (IPA: /daɪˈæzɨpæm/), first marketed as Valium by Hoffmann-La Roche) is a benzodiazepine derivative drug.
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Estazolam (marketed under the brand names ProSom, Eurodin) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. It possesses anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant properties. Estazolam is an intermediate-acting oral benzodiazepine.
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Flunitrazepam (IPA: [ˌfluːnaɪˈtræzəpæm]; is marketed by Roche under the trade name Rohypnol. It is a powerful hypnotic drug that is a benzodiazepine derivative.
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Nitrazepam (usually marketed under the trade names Mogadon® or Alodorm®) is a type of benzodiazepine drug. It is a powerful hypnotic drug which possesses strong sedative and motor impairing properties.
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Oxazepam (marketed under brand names Alepam, Murelax, Oxascand, Serax, Serepax, Seresta, Sobril) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative.
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Triazolam (marketed under brand names Halcion®, Novodorm®, Songar®) is a benzodiazepine derivative drug. It possesses pharmacological properties similar to that of other benzodiazepines, but it is generally only used as a sedative to treat insomnia.
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Temazepam (marketed under brand names Restoril®, Normison®, Planum®, Tenox® and Temaze®) is a benzodiazepine derivative with powerful hypnotic properties.
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Typical antipsychotics (sometimes referred to as conventional antipsychotics, classical neuroleptics or major tranquilizers) are a class of antipsychotic drugs first developed in the 1950s and used to treat psychosis (in particular, schizophrenia), and are
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Chlorpromazine (as chlorpromazine hydrochloride, abbreviated CPZ) is a phenothiazine antipsychotic.

Its principal use is in the treatment of schizophrenia, though it has also been used to treat hiccups and nausea.
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Fluphenazine (marketed as Prolixin) is a typical antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of psychoses such as schizophrenia and acute manic phases of bipolar disorder. It belongs to the piperazine class of phenothiazines and is extremely potent; more potent than haloperidol and
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Haloperidol (sold under the tradenames Aloperidin, Bioperidolo, Brotopon, Dozic, Duraperidol (Germany), Einalon S, Eukystol, Haldol, Halosten, Keselan, Linton, Peluces, Serenace,
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Loxapine (sold as Loxapac®, Loxitane®) is a typical antipsychotic medication, used primarily in the treatment of schizophrenia. It is a member of the dibenzoxazepine class and as a dibenzazepine derivative, it is structurally related to clozapine (which belongs to the
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