| Introduction:
Sedative-Hypnotic drugs are commonly referred to as Barbiturates or CNS
depressants. Essentially, sedative hypnotics are substances that
suppress neuron firing. Consequently,
the person taking the drug experiences relaxation, disinhabition, sleep,
unconsciousness, and ultimately death, depending on the dosage. Generally,
the use of sedative-hypnotics in the medical world has decreased because of a
narrow effectiveness-to-toxicity window. However, sedative-hypnotic drugs
in the
non-medical world while decreasing, are still widely used for many reasons.
Ethanol is technically a CNS depressant (and has a similar effect). However,
it works differently than other CNS depressants and thus was discussed in
the previous section.
This section will examine the classic CNS depressants and how they work.
The section will also briefly examine some classic anesthetics and related
drugs as well. The following lesson will examine other anxiolytics
including benzodiazepines.
Outcomes:
After completing this lesson you should understand / be
able to:
 |
Understand the physiology of
the GABA receptor
|
|
Understand how
sedative-hypnotics impact the GABA receptor
|
|
Understand how various sedative
- hypnotics impact the body
|
|
Understand how various
sedative-hypnotics impact various brain
structures
|
KSAs
|
Describe the behavioral, psychological, physical health and social
effects of psychoactive drugs including alcohol and tobacco on the
consumer and significant others.
|
|
Recognize the potential for substance use disorders to mimic a variety
of medical and psychological disorders and the potential for medical and
psychological disorders to co-exist with addiction and substance abuse.
|
|
Describe warning signs, symptoms, and the course of substance use
disorders.
|
Some Objectives:
| Through reviews of the chapter you will learn how barbiturates
work.
You will also review other CNS general anesthetics and their
function. Finally, you will understand the concepts of
cross-tolerance and supra-additive depression and other terms.
|
Some Important Terms:
| Barbiturates |
| Cognitive inhibition |
| GHB, |
| Chloral Hydrate |
| Mickey Finn |
| Phenobarbital, Pentobarbital, Mephobarbital, and others |
| Paraldehyde |
| Cross-Tolerance |
| "Supra-Additive" CNS depression |
|
|
