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

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

880
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...
880
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

2.1K
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...
2.1K
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

1.7K
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...
1.7K
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

785
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...
785
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines01:19

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines

1.3K
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...
1.3K
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates01:20

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates

1.4K
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...
1.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Multiple forms of protein-protein and DNA binding are exhibited by BrxC from the BREX phage restriction system.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Rarely reported cases of hepatotoxicity associated with turmeric- and curcuminoid-containing dietary supplements: a comprehensive review by USP.

Pharmaceutical biology·2026
Same author

New Zealand green-lipped mussel (kuku).

Journal of primary health care·2026
Same author

Assessing Natural Health Product-Drug Interactions and Coding Feasibility: Analysis of a New Zealand General Population Dataset from an Online Market Research Panel.

Drug safety·2026
Same author

Pharmacovigilance Regulatory Requirements for the Natural Health Products (NHPs) Industry in World Health Organization-Defined High Health Expenditure Countries (2020): A Scoping Review.

Drug safety·2026
Same author

Competing forms of protein-protein association and DNA binding exhibited by BrxC from the BREX phage restriction system.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

25.7K

Melatonin Interaction Resulting in Severe Sedation.

Brian C Foster1, Kosta Cvijovic, Heather S Boon

  • 1University of Ottawa.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences : a Publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe Canadienne Des Sciences Pharmaceutiques
|July 10, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Natural health products like melatonin can cause adverse drug interactions. Melatonin showed product-dependent inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes, potentially leading to severe side effects when combined with certain pharmaceuticals.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

3.3K
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

1.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

25.7K
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

3.3K
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

1.7K

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Interactions
  • Natural Health Products

Background:

  • Natural health products (NHPs) are widely assumed to be safe but contain active substances.
  • NHPs can cause adverse effects and interact with conventional pharmaceuticals.
  • Investigating NHP-pharmaceutical interactions is crucial for patient safety.

Observation:

  • Active surveillance in community pharmacies identified potential NHP-pharmaceutical interactions.
  • A case study involved a young male experiencing severe sedation after adding melatonin to his medication regimen (citalopram, nortriptyline, oxycodone).

Findings:

  • In vitro analysis revealed that melatonin products exhibit product-dependent inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP3A7).
  • The severe sedation was likely due to a pharmacokinetic interaction between melatonin and citalopram.
  • Potential interactions involving cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism were identified for the analyzed health products.

Implications:

  • This study highlights the potential risks associated with combining NHPs and pharmaceuticals.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of NHP-pharmaceutical interactions, particularly involving CYP enzymes, is essential.
  • Further research may be needed to fully elucidate pharmacodynamic interactions between NHPs and drugs.