Sedative

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A sedative is a substance that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety, sleepiness, slowed breathing, 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 death.


Contents

[edit] Types of sedatives

[edit] 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 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).

[edit] 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).

[edit] Abuse and overdoses

All sedatives can be abused, but barbiturates 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. In the US, in 1998, a total of 70,982 sedative exposures were reported to US 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 US 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. Others get sedatives from friends who have authentic prescriptions or by using fake prescriptions.

See also Other non-therapeutical use.

[edit] 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. Karen Ann Quinlan collapsed into a coma after swallowing alcohol and tranquilizers at a party in 1975. Her case spurred worldwide discussion of the ethics surrounding termination of life-sustaining treatment.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sedative drugs and crime

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

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Sedatives (N05)

Chloral Hydrate, Ethchlorvynol, Gamma-butyrolactone, Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Glutethimide, Meprobamate, Methaqualone, Methyprylon, Propofol

Barbiturates - Benzodiazepines - Imidazopyridine - Antihistamines - Herbal sedatives

v • d • e
Barbiturates

Allobarbital, Amobarbital, Aprobarbital, Alphenal, Barbexaclone, Barbital, Butabarbital, Butalbital, Butobarbital, Butallylonal, Cyclobarbital, Cyclopal, Ethallobarbital, Hexethal, Heptabarbital, Hexobarbital, Mephobarbital, Metharbital, Methohexital, Methylphenobarbital, Pentobarbital, Probarbital, Proxibarbital, Propallylonal, Reposal, Secobarbital, Talbutal, Thialbarbital, Thiamylal, Thiobarbital, Thiobutabarbital Thiopental, Vinbarbital, Vinylbital

v • d • e
Benzodiazepines

Adinazolam, Alprazolam, Bentazepam, Bromazepam, Brotizolam, Camazepam, Chlordiazepoxide, Cinolazepam, Clobazam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Clotiazepam, Cloxazolam, Cyprazepam, Diazepam, Doxefazepam, Estazolam, Ethyl loflazepate, Etizolam, Fludiazepam, Flunitrazepam, Flurazepam, Flutazolam, Flutoprazepam, Gidazepam, Halazepam, Haloxazolam, Ketazolam, Loprazolam, Lorazepam, Lormetazepam, Medazepam, Mexazolam, Midazolam, Nimetazepam, Nitrazepam, Nordazepam, Oxazepam, Oxazolam, Phenazepam, Pinazepam, Prazepam, Quazepam, Temazepam, Tetrazepam, Tofisopam, Triazolam, Zolazepam

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