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Related Concept Videos

Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Insomnia01:27

Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines01:19

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines have both sedative and hypnotic properties. They include compounds such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Structurally, their cores are similar, consisting of the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring, but they share a common mechanism of action in the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...

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Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia
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Pharmacotherapy for insomnia.

Syed H Tariq1, Shailaja Pulisetty

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 So. Grand Boulevard M-238, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA. tariqsh@slu.edu

Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|November 24, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hypnotics are frequently used for insomnia in older adults, but their benefits are often modest. Careful selection and monitoring of these medications can help minimize side effects in the geriatric population.

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Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Insomnia is a prevalent condition in older adults, with higher hypnotic medication use compared to younger populations.
  • The efficacy and safety of hypnotics in the growing geriatric demographic remain under-researched.
  • Current treatments for geriatric insomnia include benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines, trazodone, valerian, and melatonin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of hypnotic use in older adults.
  • To highlight the challenges and considerations in treating insomnia in the geriatric population.
  • To emphasize the importance of appropriate agent selection and cautious therapeutic approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on hypnotic use in geriatric populations.
  • Analysis of common hypnotic agents prescribed for insomnia in older adults.
  • Evaluation of potential benefits and adverse effects associated with hypnotic use.

Main Results:

  • Hypnotic use is common in older adults, yet the magnitude of clinical benefit is often limited.
  • Established treatments include benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines, and other agents like trazodone.
  • Minimizing side effects requires careful patient selection and dose titration.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing hypnotic therapy in older adults necessitates careful drug selection.
  • Initiating treatment with low doses and close patient monitoring is crucial.
  • Effective management can mitigate common adverse effects in geriatric insomnia patients.