Talk:Hypnotic

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This info seems to all be contained in sedative (aka sedative-hypnotic). The categories might be merged, as well. Terrace4 09:56, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

Hypnosis is a distinct neurological state, different from sedation...no merging

Hypnosis may be a different state, but the drugs called sedatives seem mostly the same as hypnotics, which is why they're called sedative-hypnotics. Terrace4 15:06, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

While some sedative-hypnotic drugs are used for the same purposes, Some drugs are almost exclusively used as hypnotics. Some drugs are also used exclusively as sedatives. For example, a hypnotic is used when someone has an endoscopic exploration of the stomach and needs to be responsive, not asleep, and generaly have no knowledge/recolection of the extremely unlpleasent event. A sedative would not be appropriate in such a situation. Just look up different drugs in the Merck index. Some will be listed as sedative-hypnotic, some will be listed as sedative, and some will be listed as hypnotic. So NO, they are NOT the same and certainly should not be merged into one article. Check the most current Physicians Desk Reference, or even an older copy published since 1975 or so.

Please, Forgive me for using laymen's terms, I just had to get the point across to the people who think sedatives and hypnotics SEEM like the same thing. I'm no doctor YET, but based on the merits of two of the above statements, I don't think anyone else on this discussion page is either.

I am not a doctor, however, I am a patient with a lot of experience using most of the drugs listed in this article for discussion. First of all, I do not think they should be merged together. This is the problem I see from a prospective of REAL USAGE, that being, NOT ALL THESE DRUGS WORK THE SAME WAY NOR DO THEY ALL PROVIDE THE SAME RESULTS OR METABOLISM. For example, if I were to take Chloral Hydrate, I would become so disoriented after just a few doses, that I would become completely hypnotic and I would continue to digest them until the final result would be my death, (true experience). I am a poor metabolizer for CYP450 2D6, which causes a build-up of this drug into my system. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION, MOST OF THESE DRUGS ARE METABOLIZED VIA THE 2D6 PATHWAY. I was given this medication to help me sleep, which it did - too well. However, it displays the characteristics for a Hypnotic - too well. This particular drug could be merged in my opinion. BUT NOT ALL THE DRUGS IN THE CATEGORY LIST FIT INTO THE PROBLEMATIC SYMPTOMS WHICH CHLORAL HYDRATE DOES. I have Chronic Insomnia, so I have to take something. I have inherited a disorder known as, Essential Tremors, which the only known treatment, other than brain surgery, are the benzodiazopines, and a few others with much worse side-effects. I have taken Clonazepam, 3mg daily, going on five years. Clonazepam is neither a sedative nor a hypnotic, in my personal opinion. In my experience, it is a tranquilizer. Valium: Doctors wouldn't be able to safely give me a dose high enough that would cause me to sleep. There are just TOO MANY VARIATIONS IN THE RESULTS OF THE DIFFERENT DRUGS, AND TO A GIVEN INDIVIDUAL, (probably not unlike a lot of drugs). However, we have a problem in this country, I haven't been to any others so I can't speak for them, IN LUMPING ALL PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR A CERTAIN DRUG, OR VISA VERSA. NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO RESPOND TO THE SAME DRUG AS THE NEXT. YET, WE CLASSIFY A CERTAIN DRUG AND EXPECT IT TO WORK THE SAME WAY AT THE SAME DOSAGE. EVERY DOCTOR at the University School of Medicine that treated me, (where I was being treated for Depression), and not one of them, even though I was intolerant to all the drugs in the Anti-depressants class,(which are metabolized via CPY450-2D6), ever considered that I might have a metabolizing problem! I find that incredibly ignorant and dangerous! In my particular situation, any drug that uses only the 2D6 pathway for metabolizing these drugs, if given to me long enough, will kill me! So, my point: I don't believe medications can so lightly be merged any more than the "next person" is going to respond as I did. My personal opinion: Classify them, what they have been created for and used for; but only one thing has ever been written in stone. I believe, especially on this topic of Hypnotics and sedation, THAT A LOT MORE STUDY NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE FIELD OF METABOLISM and the effect that has on whether a drug is a HYPNOTIC IN THE TRUE SENSE, OR JUST A MERE TRANQUILIZER, such as as Clonazepam. Very, very few of the so-called, "tranquilizers" are a true Hypnotic FOR ME. It may be different FOR YOU. (Please excuse the length of this article. Thank you for your patience).