Sedative

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

[edit intro]

## Contents

* 1 Classification
* 1.1 Alcohols
* 1.1.1 Ethylene glycols
* 1.2 Anti-adrenergics
* 1.3 Anti-histamines
* 1.4 Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists
* 1.4.1 Barbituates
* 1.4.2 Benzodiazepines
* 1.4.3 BZ1 selective agonists
* 1.5 Serotonin (5-HT) agonists
* 1.6 Other
* 2 Adverse effects
* 3 References

## Classification[edit]

Below are examples of available sedative drugs.

### Alcohols[edit]

#### Ethylene glycols[edit]

* Chloral hydrate

### Anti-adrenergics[edit]

Inhibitors of the adrenergic alpha-2 receptor can cause sedation.

* Dexmedetomidine. In some settings, dexmedetomidine may cause less drug-related side effects and adverse reactionss than non-selective benzodiazepines.[1]

### Anti-histamines[edit]

* Diphenhydramine

### Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists[edit]

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.[2] Drugs that increase the effect of GABA are called GABAergic.

Many sedatives work by increasing receptiveness of GABAA receptors.

#### Barbituates[edit]

Barbituates are GABAergic by increasing receptiveness of the GABAA receptors. Barbituates do this by increasing the duration of openings of channels in the cell membrane.[2]

* Phenobarbital

#### Benzodiazepines[edit]

Benzodiazepines are non-selective agonists by increasing receptiveness of the GABAA receptors. Benzodiazepines do this by increasing the frequency of openings of channels in the cell membrane.[2]

Benzodiazepine receptors are BZ1 and BZ2.

* Diazepam (Valium)

#### BZ1 selective agonists[edit]

* Zaleplon
* Zolpidem

### Serotonin (5-HT) agonists[edit]

Agonists of the 5-HT1A receptor can cause sedation.

* Buspirone

### Other[edit]

* Propofol[3]

## Adverse effects[edit]

Sedatives taken for insomnia are associated with increased mortality with increasing mortality with increasing frequency of use of sedatives.[4][5]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Pandharipande PP, Pun BT, Herr DL, et al (2007). "Effect of sedation with dexmedetomidine vs lorazepam on acute brain dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients: the MENDS randomized controlled trial". JAMA 298 (22): 2644–53. DOI:10.1001/jama.298.22.2644. PMID 18073360. Research Blogging.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Katzung, Bertram G. (2006). Basic and clinical pharmacology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division. ISBN 0-07-145153-6.
3. ↑ Miner JR et al. Randomized clinical trial of propofol versus ketamine for procedural sedation in the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2010 Jun; 17:604.
4. ↑ Weich S, Pearce HL, Croft P, Singh S, Crome I, Bashford J et al. (2014). "Effect of anxiolytic and hypnotic drug prescriptions on mortality hazards: retrospective cohort study.". BMJ 348: g1996. DOI:10.1136/bmj.g1996. PMID 24647164. PMC PMC3959619. Research Blogging.
5. ↑ Kripke DF, Langer RD, Kline LE (2012). "Hypnotics' association with mortality or cancer: a matched cohort study.". BMJ Open 2 (1): e000850. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-000850. PMID 22371848. PMC PMC3293137. Research Blogging.