Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Method for Simultaneous fMRI/EEG Data Collection during a Focused Attention Suggestion for Differential Thermal Sensation
Published on: January 5, 2014
[Hypnotics--state of the science]
1Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104, Freiburg, Deutschland, christoph.nissen@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
This review covers sleep-inducing drugs, recommending non-pharmacological methods first. It details short-term options like benzodiazepines and long-term use of antihistamines/antidepressants, noting limited efficacy for others.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Sleep Medicine
Context:
- Overview of indications and effects of sleep-inducing drugs.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are preferred first-line treatments for insomnia.
Purpose:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of pharmacological interventions for sleep disorders.
- To discuss the efficacy, tolerability, and risks associated with various sleep-inducing medications.
Summary:
- Benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine receptor agonists are recommended for short-term acute insomnia treatment.
- Sedative antihistamines and antidepressants are frequently used for long-term insomnia, despite risks of tolerance and dependency.
- Herbal compounds and melatonin have minimal side effects but limited therapeutic efficacy.
- Long-term data on the efficacy and tolerability of many sleep-inducing substances are scarce.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for cautious pharmacological treatment of insomnia, prioritizing non-pharmacological approaches.
- Emphasizes the risks of tolerance and dependency with certain hypnotics.
- Recommends thorough psychiatric and somatic evaluation for treatment-resistant insomnia.
More Related Videos
14:52Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
Published on: January 13, 2018
08:16Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics
Published on: July 23, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
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: Benzodiazepines
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...
Altered States of Awareness
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
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: Barbiturates
Management of Insomnia