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Sedative Hypnotic Drugs

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology

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Definition

Medications that are classified as sedative hypnotic medications are used clinically to cause sedation by the relief of anxiety or to promote sleep. The major classes of sedative hypnotic medications include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and other drugs that do not fit into either of the other categories.

Current Knowledge

Mechanism of Action

The benzodiazepines are generally classified into three groups: short acting, intermediate acting, and long acting. The duration of action plays a major role in determining its clinical use. The molecular site of action for the drug is at the GABAA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptor in the central nervous system (CNS). An increase in the effect of GABA results in general suppression of the CNS when it binds with a benzodiazepine.

Regarding use, medications such as diazepam, clonazepam, and lorazepam have been useful in the treatment of generalized seizures. Some of the benzodiazepines cause anesthesia without loss of consciousness and...

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References and Readings

  • Cranwell-Bruce, L. (2007). Hypnotic sedative drugs. Medsurg Nursing, 16(3), 198–200.

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  • Jaffe, J., Bloor, R., Crome, I., Carr, M., Alam, F., Simmons, A., et al. (2004). A postmarketing study of relative abuse liability of hypnotic sedative drugs. Addiction, 99(2), 165–173.

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  • Oray, N., Hocaoglu, N., Oray, D., Demir, O., Atilla, R., & Tuncok, Y. (2008). Sedative-hypnotic medication exposures and poisonings in Izmir, Turkey. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 103(4), 380–385.

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  • Schuckit, M., Smith, T., Kramer, J., Danko, G., & Volpe, F. (2002). The prevalence and clinical course of sedative-hypnotic abuse and dependence in a large cohort. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 28(1), 73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MSN, CRRN, Paoli, PA, USA

    Mary Pat Murphy

Authors
  1. Mary Pat Murphy
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Correspondence to Mary Pat Murphy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Richmond, Virgin Islands, USA

    Jeffrey Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation , West Orange, New Jersey, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Suite 200 , Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA

    Bruce Caplan

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Murphy, M.P. (2017). Sedative Hypnotic Drugs. In: Kreutzer, J., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_1777-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_1777-2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

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