Examples, uses, effects, and more

Sedatives, or central nervous system depressants, are a group of drugs that slow brain activity. People use these drugs to help them calm down, feel more relaxed, and get better sleep.

There has been a recent increase in sedative prescriptions. Doctors prescribe sedatives to treat conditions such as:

• anxiety disorders
• sleep disorders
• seizures
• tension
• panic disorders
• alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Sedatives are drugs that people commonly misuse. Misusing sedatives and prolonging their use may lead to dependency and eventual withdrawal symptoms.

This article examines the different types of sedatives available and their possible uses. It also looks at the potential risks associated with using them and some alternative options.

Sedatives have numerous clinical uses. For example, they can induce sedation before surgical procedures, and this can range from mild sedation to general anesthesia.

Doctors also give sedatives and analgesics to individuals to reduce anxiety and provide pain relief before and after procedures.

Obstetric anesthesiologists may also give sedatives to people experiencing distress or restlessness during labor.

Because of their ability to relieve physical stress and anxiety and promote relaxation, doctors may also prescribe sedatives to people with insomnia, anxiety disorders, and muscle spasms.

People with bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seizures may also benefit from prescription sedatives.

The following is a list of sedatives that people commonly use.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates help relieve anxiety and treat seizures.

Examples of barbiturates include:

• phenobarbital (Luminal)
• amobarbital (Amytal Sodium)
• butalbital (Fiorinal)
• pentobarbital (Nembutal)

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines treat various conditions, including:

• panic attacks
• insomnia
• seizures
• depression
• painful muscle spasms

Examples of benzodiazepines include:

• diazepam (Valium)
• alprazolam (Xanax)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• lorazepam (Ativan)

Hypnotics

Also known as nonbenzodiazepine sleep medications or Z-drugs, hypnotics are similar to benzodiazepines but cause fewer side effects. Doctors typically use hypnotics to treat sleep disorders.

Examples of hypnotics include:

• zolpidem (Ambien)
• eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• zaleplon (Sonata)

First generation antihistamines

Some antihistamines have sedating properties and are useful in treating mild sleep problems.

Antihistamines are available over the counter and include:

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• brompheniramine (Dimetapp)

Others

Other medications slow brain activity and have sedating effects using different mechanisms than those that sedatives utilize. These include:

• opioids
• alcohol
• general anesthetics
• muscle relaxants
• antidepressants
• antipsychotics

Some examples of these prescription medications include:

• oxycodone (OxyContin)
• morphine (Roxanol)
• baclofen (Lioresal)
• gamma-hydroxybutyrate (Xyrem)
• amitriptyline (Elavil)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)

Sedatives act by increasing the activity of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This can slow down brain activity in general.

The inhibition of brain activity causes a person to become more relaxed, drowsy, and calm. Sedatives also allow GABA to have a stronger inhibitory effect on the brain.

Although sedatives have intended clinical effects, they may also cause some unwanted short-term side effects, including:

• difficulties with focus and concentration
• memory loss
• slow reaction times
• impaired depth and distance perception
• an inability to feel pain
• confusion
• impaired judgment
• slurred speech
• low blood pressure

The long-term use of sedatives may cause:

• anxiety
• chronic fatigue
• weight gain
• depression
• thoughts of suicide

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

• Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
• Listen to the person without judgment.
• Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
• Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
• Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Click here for more links and local resources.

Was this helpful?

People taking sedatives need to be cautious when using cannabis since the drug can dampen the effects of sedatives. One 2019 study suggests that people who use cannabis regularly require higher doses of sedatives.

People taking sedatives who plan to become pregnant should talk with a doctor. Another 2019 study indicates that the use of antianxiety medications during early pregnancy increases the risk of preeclampsia and may also lead to preterm birth and a low birth weight.

Misusing sedatives, which means taking them in amounts or ways other than what the doctor prescribed, can have detrimental effects for a person, including overdose.

Combining sedatives with other depressants can cause a combined and much more significant effect. In 2018, 899 people ages 15–24 years died from overusing prescription drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The majority of these deaths occurred as a result of taking benzodiazepines with opioid medications.

One 2017 study suggests that people taking both opioids and benzodiazepines have a higher risk of opioid overdose and emergency room admissions. A similar study suggests that people taking both types of drugs have a 10-fold risk of dying from an overdose compared with those who only take opioids.

Alcohol is another potent depressant that may interact with and increase the effects of sedatives, causing increased sedation and more significant impairment. The effects could slow down or even stop a person’s breathing and heart function.

Some other potential consequences of misuse include:

• impaired function while engaging in activities such as driving
• unconsciousness
• death

Long-term sedative use can also cause dependence. It is important to note that dependence does not only happen in people who misuse sedatives. It also affects people who take them exactly as the doctor prescribed.

Because their body has become used to the sedative’s effects, a person may also develop a tolerance to the drug or get a reduced effect from it. As a result, they may need higher doses to achieve the same initial effect.

If someone develops a dependence on a drug, they may experience withdrawal if they stop taking it.

People who suddenly stop taking sedatives may experience withdrawal symptoms. These can happen rapidly, be severe, and even be life threatening. Withdrawal symptoms may appear as early as 12–24 hours after the person’s last dose.

Withdrawal symptoms may include:

• irritability
• hallucinations
• difficulty sleeping
• rapid heart rate
• shaky hands and unintended movements
• profuse sweating
• nausea and vomiting

People who worry about becoming dependent on sedatives can try other options to manage their condition, such as:

• Lifestyle changes: Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and good sleep hygiene may help decrease anxiety, improve overall health and well-being, and enhance sleep.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): One 2020 study suggests that CBT and yoga are both effective in managing late-life worry in older adults. They were also effective in improving the sleep of shift workers.
• Yoga: Yoga and meditation may promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve sleep. In one study, doing prenatal yoga during pregnancy reduced anxiety and improved sleep.
• Relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and other relaxation techniques may help people cope with anxiety and stress.
• Aromatherapy: A person can use essential oils such as lavender and chamomile to help them sleep and relax.
• Supplements: Several supplements — including valerian root, melatonin, passionflower, and magnesium — may help improve sleep. A 2021 study suggests that taking magnesium may improve sleep duration and quality.

People use sedatives for a variety of clinical purposes. However, these drugs are prone to misuse and may cause severe side effects.

People taking sedatives must communicate with a doctor to prevent adverse side effects, including dependence and withdrawal. People who are planning to take sedatives should first ask a doctor for possible alternatives.

Examples, uses, effects, and more

Sedatives, or central nervous system depressants, are a group of drugs that slow brain activity. People use these drugs to help them calm down, feel more relaxed, and get better sleep.

There has been a recent increase in sedative prescriptions. Doctors prescribe sedatives to treat conditions such as:

• anxiety disorders
• sleep disorders
• seizures
• tension
• panic disorders
• alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Sedatives are drugs that people commonly misuse. Misusing sedatives and prolonging their use may lead to dependency and eventual withdrawal symptoms.

This article examines the different types of sedatives available and their possible uses. It also looks at the potential risks associated with using them and some alternative options.

Sedatives have numerous clinical uses. For example, they can induce sedation before surgical procedures, and this can range from mild sedation to general anesthesia.

Doctors also give sedatives and analgesics to individuals to reduce anxiety and provide pain relief before and after procedures.

Obstetric anesthesiologists may also give sedatives to people experiencing distress or restlessness during labor.

Because of their ability to relieve physical stress and anxiety and promote relaxation, doctors may also prescribe sedatives to people with insomnia, anxiety disorders, and muscle spasms.

People with bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seizures may also benefit from prescription sedatives.

The following is a list of sedatives that people commonly use.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates help relieve anxiety and treat seizures.

Examples of barbiturates include:

• phenobarbital (Luminal)
• amobarbital (Amytal Sodium)
• butalbital (Fiorinal)
• pentobarbital (Nembutal)

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines treat various conditions, including:

• panic attacks
• insomnia
• seizures
• depression
• painful muscle spasms

Examples of benzodiazepines include:

• diazepam (Valium)
• alprazolam (Xanax)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• lorazepam (Ativan)

Hypnotics

Also known as nonbenzodiazepine sleep medications or Z-drugs, hypnotics are similar to benzodiazepines but cause fewer side effects. Doctors typically use hypnotics to treat sleep disorders.

Examples of hypnotics include:

• zolpidem (Ambien)
• eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• zaleplon (Sonata)

First generation antihistamines

Some antihistamines have sedating properties and are useful in treating mild sleep problems.

Antihistamines are available over the counter and include:

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• brompheniramine (Dimetapp)

Others

Other medications slow brain activity and have sedating effects using different mechanisms than those that sedatives utilize. These include:

• opioids
• alcohol
• general anesthetics
• muscle relaxants
• antidepressants
• antipsychotics

Some examples of these prescription medications include:

• oxycodone (OxyContin)
• morphine (Roxanol)
• baclofen (Lioresal)
• gamma-hydroxybutyrate (Xyrem)
• amitriptyline (Elavil)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)

Sedatives act by increasing the activity of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This can slow down brain activity in general.

The inhibition of brain activity causes a person to become more relaxed, drowsy, and calm. Sedatives also allow GABA to have a stronger inhibitory effect on the brain.

Although sedatives have intended clinical effects, they may also cause some unwanted short-term side effects, including:

• difficulties with focus and concentration
• memory loss
• slow reaction times
• impaired depth and distance perception
• an inability to feel pain
• confusion
• impaired judgment
• slurred speech
• low blood pressure

The long-term use of sedatives may cause:

• anxiety
• chronic fatigue
• weight gain
• depression
• thoughts of suicide

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

• Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
• Listen to the person without judgment.
• Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
• Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
• Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Click here for more links and local resources.

Was this helpful?

People taking sedatives need to be cautious when using cannabis since the drug can dampen the effects of sedatives. One 2019 study suggests that people who use cannabis regularly require higher doses of sedatives.

People taking sedatives who plan to become pregnant should talk with a doctor. Another 2019 study indicates that the use of antianxiety medications during early pregnancy increases the risk of preeclampsia and may also lead to preterm birth and a low birth weight.

Misusing sedatives, which means taking them in amounts or ways other than what the doctor prescribed, can have detrimental effects for a person, including overdose.

Combining sedatives with other depressants can cause a combined and much more significant effect. In 2018, 899 people ages 15–24 years died from overusing prescription drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The majority of these deaths occurred as a result of taking benzodiazepines with opioid medications.

One 2017 study suggests that people taking both opioids and benzodiazepines have a higher risk of opioid overdose and emergency room admissions. A similar study suggests that people taking both types of drugs have a 10-fold risk of dying from an overdose compared with those who only take opioids.

Alcohol is another potent depressant that may interact with and increase the effects of sedatives, causing increased sedation and more significant impairment. The effects could slow down or even stop a person’s breathing and heart function.

Some other potential consequences of misuse include:

• impaired function while engaging in activities such as driving
• unconsciousness
• death

Long-term sedative use can also cause dependence. It is important to note that dependence does not only happen in people who misuse sedatives. It also affects people who take them exactly as the doctor prescribed.

Because their body has become used to the sedative’s effects, a person may also develop a tolerance to the drug or get a reduced effect from it. As a result, they may need higher doses to achieve the same initial effect.

If someone develops a dependence on a drug, they may experience withdrawal if they stop taking it.

People who suddenly stop taking sedatives may experience withdrawal symptoms. These can happen rapidly, be severe, and even be life threatening. Withdrawal symptoms may appear as early as 12–24 hours after the person’s last dose.

Withdrawal symptoms may include:

• irritability
• hallucinations
• difficulty sleeping
• rapid heart rate
• shaky hands and unintended movements
• profuse sweating
• nausea and vomiting

People who worry about becoming dependent on sedatives can try other options to manage their condition, such as:

• Lifestyle changes: Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and good sleep hygiene may help decrease anxiety, improve overall health and well-being, and enhance sleep.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): One 2020 study suggests that CBT and yoga are both effective in managing late-life worry in older adults. They were also effective in improving the sleep of shift workers.
• Yoga: Yoga and meditation may promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve sleep. In one study, doing prenatal yoga during pregnancy reduced anxiety and improved sleep.
• Relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and other relaxation techniques may help people cope with anxiety and stress.
• Aromatherapy: A person can use essential oils such as lavender and chamomile to help them sleep and relax.
• Supplements: Several supplements — including valerian root, melatonin, passionflower, and magnesium — may help improve sleep. A 2021 study suggests that taking magnesium may improve sleep duration and quality.

People use sedatives for a variety of clinical purposes. However, these drugs are prone to misuse and may cause severe side effects.

People taking sedatives must communicate with a doctor to prevent adverse side effects, including dependence and withdrawal. People who are planning to take sedatives should first ask a doctor for possible alternatives.

Sedatives – ACADEMPHARM

Sedatives are drugs that reduce emotional stress and have a calming effect on the central nervous system. They do not have a pronounced hypnotic effect, but at the same time they facilitate the onset of falling asleep and improve the quality of sleep. Available in the form of drops, tablets, capsules, tinctures, as well as herbal preparations for brewing.

Pharmaceutical sedatives are divided into three groups:

1. Vegetable – their basis is vegetable raw materials: hawthorn, mint , lemon balm , valerian , peppermint, motherwort. Such preparations may be single-component or multi-component. They are well tolerated and have a mild cumulative effect, so they need to be taken for a long time.
2. Synthetic – have a pronounced effect on the nervous system, have a number of contraindications and side effects. These include:

• bromine-based agents – bromides. Anticonvulsants, which are used to treat neurotic disorders.
• drugs containing phenobarbital – have an effective sedative effect. The disadvantage of such drugs is that with prolonged use they are addictive and withdrawal syndrome. The withdrawal syndrome is understood as the reaction of the body to the discontinuation of the drug, in which the condition worsens and the initial symptoms of the disease are activated.
• small tranquilizers – prescription sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs .

3. Combined – in such medicines, plant components are combined with synthetic ones. They take courses several times a year. Released without a prescription.

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of patients prefer to take herbal sedatives. This is because they are non-addictive, less toxic, and generally well tolerated.

Sedatives: indications for use

The state of stress and constant nervous tension is fraught with such health problems as arterial hypertension, impaired blood glucose levels, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Sleep disturbance, mood swings, constant nervousness and irritability increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and other diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to reduce nervous excitement and restore a normal psychological state.

Calming drugs are used in the following cases:

• increased anxiety ;
• chronic stress;
• irritability;
• neuroses and neurosis-like conditions;
• climax condition;
• inability to relax;
• hyperexcitability;
• reduced performance;
• neurasthenia;
• psycho-emotional stress;
• insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Sedatives are used in some intestinal diseases, as they have a mild antispasmodic effect. As part of complex therapy, they are prescribed for arrhythmias, angina pectoris, arterial hypertension. Sedatives are also used for emotional experiences before exams or other important events, to calm before certain medical procedures, with dental phobia – fear of dental treatment.

In case of depression, phobias or severe mental disorders, it is better to visit the appropriate specialist immediately, without waiting for the condition to worsen. He will prescribe a course of psychotherapy in combination with effective drugs.

Contraindications

Like any drug, sedatives have a number of contraindications. They must not be used under the following conditions:

• allergic reactions or intolerance to the components of the drug;
• low blood pressure;
• kidney and liver pathologies;
• children’s age;
• bradycardia;
• brain damage;
• lactose deficiency;
• cholelithiasis;

Alcohol-based preparations are contraindicated in patients with alcoholism, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and during pregnancy and lactation. With some contraindications, the doctor may prescribe a sedative at a lower dosage if he considers that the benefits of the medication outweigh the possible harm from side effects.

Long-term use of sedative drugs may cause side effects such as dizziness, lethargy, nausea, and abdominal cramps. In this case, the advisability of further therapy should be discussed with the doctor.

Which sedative is best?

This question cannot be answered unambiguously. The choice of medication depends on the symptoms and severity of the patient’s condition. With stress and mild forms of psycho-emotional disorders, it is more reasonable to stop at preparations that contain extracts of medicinal herbs. The effect of sedatives of plant origin appears gently, gradually. Therefore, they should be taken for at least two weeks. Such drugs do not cause dependence, side effects are extremely rare, and there is no withdrawal syndrome upon discontinuation. The mild effect of herbs has a calming effect, normalizes the emotional background, improves the quality of sleep. For a complex effect, products containing several components are suitable. For example, RATIUM contains three types of raw materials – valerian , lemon balm and mint .

If long-term use of sedative drugs does not give a positive effect, you need to see a doctor to adjust the treatment.

Although herbal sedatives are sold over-the-counter in pharmacies, we recommend that you consult your doctor before using them. He will indicate the duration of administration and dosage, which will be effective in your case. If it is not possible to consult a doctor, be sure to read the instructions before use.

Sedatives: pharmacological group

Description

Sedatives (from Latin sedatio – sedation) are drugs that have a general calming effect on the central nervous system. The sedative (calming) effect is manifested in a decrease in the reaction to various external stimuli and a slight decrease in daily activity.

The drugs of this group regulate the functions of the central nervous system, enhancing the processes of inhibition or lowering the processes of excitation. As a rule, they facilitate the onset and deepen natural sleep, enhance the effect of hypnotics, analgesics and other drugs that depress the central nervous system.

Sedatives include bromine preparations – sodium bromide and potassium bromide, camphor bromide, as well as preparations made from medicinal plants (valerian, motherwort, passionflower, peony, etc.).

Bromides began to be used in medicine a very long time ago, back in the 19th century. The effect of bromine salts on higher nervous activity was studied in detail by I.P. Pavlov and his students with experimentally induced neurosis in dogs, as well as in healthy animals.

According to I.P. Pavlov, the main effect of bromides is associated with the ability to concentrate and enhance the processes of inhibition in the cerebral cortex, restoring the disturbed balance between the processes of inhibition and excitation, especially with increased excitability of the central nervous system. The action of bromides depends on the type of higher nervous activity and the functional state of the nervous system. Under experimental conditions, it has been shown that in order to obtain the same therapeutic effect, animals with a weak type of nervous activity require lower doses of bromides than animals with a strong type of nervous activity. In addition, as a rule, the less the severity of functional disorders in the cerebral cortex, the smaller doses are required to correct these disorders.

The dependence of the therapeutic doses of bromides on the type of nervous activity has also been confirmed in the clinic. In this regard, it is necessary to take into account the type and condition of the nervous system when selecting an individual dose.

Bromine preparations are used in various neurotic disorders as sedatives. Bromides also have anticonvulsant activity, but they are currently very rarely used as antiepileptic drugs.

It should be taken into account that bromine salts are characterized by slow excretion from the body (plasma concentration decreases by half after about 12 days). Bromides accumulate in the body and can cause chronic poisoning (bromism), manifested by general lethargy, apathy, memory impairment, and the appearance of a characteristic skin rash (acne bromica) , irritation and inflammation of mucous membranes, etc.

In medicine, preparations obtained from medicinal raw materials – rhizomes and roots of valerian, flowering tops of motherwort herb, shoots with leaves of passionflower grass, etc. have long been widely used. of plant origin due to their constituent essential oils, alkaloids, etc. ), as well as some alkaloids (valerine and hatinine), tannins, sugars, etc. Valerian has a moderate sedative effect, enhances the effect of hypnotics, and also has antispasmodic properties.

The main biologically active substances that make up motherwort preparations are flavonol glycosides, essential oils, low-toxic alkaloids, saponins, tannins.

There are combined preparations (Validol, Valocordin, etc.), which contain various sedative substances.

Despite the availability of modern tranquilizers, sedatives continue to be widely used in medical practice. The main indications for the appointment of sedatives are increased nervous excitability, irritability, vegetative-vascular disorders, sleep disorders, neuroses (at the beginning of treatment), incl. cardioneurosis, neurosis-like states. Compared with anxiolytics and hypnotics, especially benzodiazepine derivatives, sedatives (especially of plant origin) have a less pronounced sedative effect, however, they are characterized by good tolerance and the absence of serious side effects (do not cause muscle relaxation, ataxia, drowsiness, and addiction, mental and physical dependence). All this allows them to be widely used in everyday outpatient practice.

Previously, magnesium sulfate was used as a sedative, which, depending on the method of administration, has a different pharmacological effect on the body. When ingested, magnesium sulfate is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and acts as a laxative and choleretic agent. When administered parenterally, magnesium sulfate reduces the excitability of neurons and has a depressant effect on the central nervous system (it manifests itself as a sedative, anticonvulsant, in large doses – an anesthetic effect), and also has a myotropic antispasmodic effect. The effect on the cardiovascular system is manifested by hypotensive (predominantly elevated blood pressure decreases) and antiarrhythmic (with paroxysms of ventricular tachycardia of the “pirouette” type) effects.

Numerous experimental and clinical studies conducted since the mid-80s of the XX century have proven the important role of magnesium ions in the regulation of the functions of the nervous, cardiovascular and other body systems. It has been shown that a lack of magnesium in the body leads to increased excitability of cells, primarily muscle and nerve cells, to metabolic disorders (energy metabolism, etc.), incl. in the central nervous system, to disruption of neuromuscular transmission, etc.