Sedative-Hypnotic
Definition
CNS depressant. Sedative dose calms (anxiolysis); hypnotic dose induces sleep; higher doses cause anaesthesia, respiratory depression and death.
- Class
- CNS depressant
- Low dose effect
- Anxiolysis (sedation)
- Higher dose effect
- Sleep induction (hypnosis)
- Overdose risk
- Anaesthesia, respiratory depression, death
Common questions
Why can the same drug be described as both a sedative and a hypnotic?+
The classification describes the dose-dependent effect rather than a fixed property of the drug, so many CNS depressants calm at a low dose and induce sleep at a higher one within the same pharmacological family.
Why is combining a sedative-hypnotic with alcohol particularly dangerous?+
Both act on the same CNS depressant pathways, so their effects add together and can push a dose that would be safe alone into the range that causes respiratory depression, a common finding in mixed-drug toxicology fatalities.
Related terms
- Barbiturate
- Cyclic ureide derivative of barbituric acid. Potentiates GABA-A. Sub-classed by duration of action: long (phenobarbital), intermediate (amobarbital), short (secobarbital, pentobarbital) and ultrashort...
- Benzodiazepine
- Fused benzene plus seven-member diazepine ring. Allosteric modulator of GABA-A at the alpha-gamma interface. Reversed by flumazenil.
- FPN Reagent
- Ferric chloride, perchloric acid and nitric acid mixture. Red to orange-red colour with phenothiazines (chlorpromazine and relatives). Screen of choice for major...
- Schedule H1
- Forty-six substances notified by the 2013 amendment (Drugs and Cosmetics Fourth Amendment Rules, 2013, GSR 588(E) dated 30 August 2013, in force...
- Tranquillizer
- Older umbrella term. Minor tranquillizers (benzodiazepines) treat anxiety. Major tranquillizers (phenothiazines, butyrophenones) are antipsychotics.
- Z-Drug
- Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic (zolpidem, zopiclone, eszopiclone) that binds the alpha-1 subunit of GABA-A selectively. Same date-rape and stupefying-robbery potential as the BZDs.
- Zwikker / Dille-Koppanyi Reagent
- Cobalt salt (nitrate or acetate) plus isopropylamine. Violet to blue-violet colour with barbiturates. Workhorse barbiturate screen since the 1940s.