A drug used to calm anxious patients without actually causing sleep; however, many sedatives in larger doses can be used as sleeping agents. Phenobarbitone was previously the most commonly used sedative, but it has been replaced for this purpose by drugs such as the safer benzodiazepines (eg diazepam). Sedatives used in the 19th-c include bromides, chloral hydrate, and paraldehyde.
Types of sedatives
Antidepressants mirtazapine (Remeron®) trazodone (Desyrel®) Barbiturates secobarbital (Seconal®) pentobarbital (Nembutal®) amobarbital (Amytal®) Benzodiazepines ("minor tranquilizers") alprazolam (Xanax®) diazepam (Valium®) lorazepam (Atavan®) Typical antipsychotics ("major tranquilizers") fluphenazine (Prolixin®) haloperidol (Haldol®) loxapine succinate (Loxitane®) perphenazine (Etrafon®, Trilafon®) prochlorperazine (Compazine®) thiothixene (Navane®) trifluoperazine (Stelazine®, Trifluoperaz®) Atypical antipsychotics clozapine (Clozaril®) quetiapine (Seroquel®) risperidone (Risperdal®) ziprasidone (Geodon®) (It may make some people tired, while causing insomnia in others) olanzapine (Zyprexa®) Herbal sedatives catnip Valerian (plant) Mandrake Kava Kava Uncategorized sedatives chloral hydrate (Noctec®) diethyl ether (Ether) eszopiclone (Lunesta®) ethchlorvynol (Placidyl®) ethyl alcohol (alcoholic beverage) gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) glutethimide (Doriden®) meprobamate (Miltown®) methaqualone (Sopor®, Quaalude®) methyl trichloride (Chloroform) methyprylon (Noludar®) ramelteon (Rozerem®) zaleplon (Sonata®) zolpidem (Ambien®) zopiclone (Imovane®, Zimovane®)Therapeutic use
Doctors and nurses often administer sedation 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.
Sedative dependence
All sedatives can cause physiological and psychological dependence when taken regularly over a period of time, even at therapeutic doses. Both physical and psychological dependence can be treated (see Sedative Dependence).
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. Stimulant users frequently take sedatives to calm excessive jitteriness. Others take sedatives recreationally to relax and forget their worries. 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.
Sedatives and alcohol
Sedatives and alcohol are sometimes combined recreationally or carelessly.
Lookalikes
Lookalikes, or pills made to mimic the appearance and the effects of authentic sedatives, are sold on the street.
Sedatives and amnesia
Sedation can sometimes leave the patient with long-term or short-term amnesia.
Sedative drugs and crime
The sedative GHB is known for its use as a date rape drug, administered to unsuspecting patrons in bars or guests at parties to reduce the intended victims' defenses.
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