Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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...
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...
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...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Review in Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Drugs·2016
Same author

Erratum to: Cariprazine: First Global Approval.

Drugs·2016
Same author

Capsaicin 8 % Patch: A Review in Peripheral Neuropathic Pain.

Drugs·2015
Same author

Evogliptin: First Global Approval.

Drugs·2015
Same author

Cariprazine: First Global Approval.

Drugs·2015
Same author

Vilazodone: a review in major depressive disorder in adults.

Drugs·2015

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia
04:34

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

Published on: February 17, 2023

Spotlight on eszopiclone in insomnia.

Philip I Hair1, Paul L McCormack, Monique P Curran

  • 1Wolters Kluwer Health | Adis, Auckland, New Zealand.

CNS Drugs
|October 9, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Eszopiclone (Lunesta) effectively treats insomnia by improving sleep onset and maintenance in adults and the elderly. This nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agent is well-tolerated and offers long-term use without tolerance or withdrawal effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

  • Eszopiclone, the S-enantiomer of zopiclone, is an oral, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic approved for insomnia treatment.
  • It is rapidly absorbed with no detected next-day residual effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of eszopiclone in adult and elderly patients with primary and co-morbid insomnia.
  • To assess its impact on daytime functioning and quality of life.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of large, well-designed trials up to 6 months in duration for primary insomnia.
  • Evaluation of studies of 4-8 weeks for co-morbid insomnia.
  • Assessment of long-term (12 months) safety and tolerability data.

More Related Videos

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
04:33

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: April 26, 2024

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia
04:34

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

Published on: February 17, 2023

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
04:33

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: April 26, 2024

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Main Results:

  • Eszopiclone significantly improved sleep onset and maintenance compared to placebo in primary insomnia.
  • It also improved sleep parameters and some co-morbid conditions in patients with co-morbid insomnia.
  • Improvements in daytime functioning and quality of life were observed with longer-term use.

Conclusions:

  • Eszopiclone is a valuable therapeutic option for managing primary and co-morbid insomnia in adults and the elderly.
  • It demonstrates efficacy, tolerability, and potential for long-term use, unlike many other hypnotics.
  • Further comparative trials are needed to establish its relative efficacy against other nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics.