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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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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...
Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone01:29

Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone

Benzodiazepines are a class of anxiolytic drugs known for their rapid efficacy and high therapeutic-to-lethal dose ratio, but with a potential risk of drug dependence. These drugs are lipophilic, allowing for rapid absorption after oral administration, eventually reaching the central nervous system (CNS). Once in the CNS, benzodiazepines bind to the allosteric site of the GABAA receptor. This binding enhances the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. By doing so, they prevent...
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: Overview01:23

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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...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates01:20

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a drug class that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate anxiety, promote relaxation and induce sleep.These drugs function by amplifying the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in reduced neuronal activity. Barbiturates, a subset of sedatives and hypnotics first synthesized in the late 1800s, are categorized into ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long-acting groups based on their duration of effect. A key...

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Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Published on: December 6, 2016

[Co-medication with benzodiazepines].

Marte Handal1, Svetlana Skurtveit, Jørg G Mørland

  • 1Avdeling for legemiddelepidemiologi, Divisjon for epidemiologi, Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt, Norway. marte.handal@fhi.no

Tidsskrift for Den Norske Laegeforening : Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin, Ny Raekke
|March 9, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Concurrent prescription of multiple benzodiazepines is common in Norway, despite lacking a pharmacological basis. This practice, often involving a single prescriber, affects 14.6% of patients, with higher proportions in men and younger adults.

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Last Updated: May 24, 2026

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

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Public Health

Context:

  • Benzodiazepines share similar mechanisms of action, differing mainly in pharmacokinetics.
  • There is no established pharmacological rationale for prescribing multiple benzodiazepines to the same patient concurrently.
  • Understanding co-medication patterns is crucial for optimizing patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the prevalence of co-medication with different types of benzodiazepines in Norway.
  • To analyze the extent of concurrent benzodiazepine use among patients.
  • To identify demographic factors associated with benzodiazepine co-medication.

Summary:

  • Analysis of Norwegian Prescription Database data (n=299,185) revealed that approximately 14.6% of patients received at least two different benzodiazepines in 2008.
  • 6.9% of patients were prescribed at least two different benzodiazepines on a single prescription.
  • While more women were co-medicated, the proportion of co-medication was higher in men and most frequent in the 18-49 age group.

Impact:

  • Highlights an extensive and concerning prescription practice of concurrent benzodiazepine use.
  • Suggests that concurrent benzodiazepine prescriptions are often issued by the same physician.
  • Underscores the need for improved prescribing guidelines and physician education to reduce polypharmacy and enhance patient safety.