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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...
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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Opioids, sleep, and sleep-disordered breathing.

Moshe Zutler1, Jon-Erik C Holty

  • 1Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. moshe.zutler@ucsf.edu

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|April 12, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Opioid use can cause respiratory depression and sleep apnea, leading to low oxygen levels during sleep. Understanding these effects is crucial for managing chronic pain patients.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Pharmacology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Opioid medications are widely prescribed for chronic pain management.
  • Opioid-induced respiratory depression and sleep-disordered breathing are significant concerns.
  • Nocturnal hypoxemia and sleep-disordered breathing are linked to opioid use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiological control of respiration and sleep.
  • To examine the role of opioids in altering respiratory and sleep regulation.
  • To summarize evidence on opioid use and sleep-disordered breathing, and explore treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of physiological control of respiration and sleep.
  • Review of studies on opioid mechanisms and effects on breathing during sleep.

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  • Synthesis of evidence on opioid-associated sleep-disordered breathing.
  • Exploration of treatment options for opioid-induced respiratory issues.

    • Main Results:

    • Opioids significantly alter the regulation of respiration and sleep.
    • Opioid use is associated with increased risk of nocturnal apneas and hypoxemia.
    • Evidence links opioid use to various forms of sleep-disordered breathing.

    Conclusions:

    • Opioid-associated respiratory depression during sleep is a critical adverse effect.
    • Understanding opioid effects on sleep and respiration is vital for patient safety.
    • Further research and tailored treatments are needed for opioid-induced sleep-disordered breathing.