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

689
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...
689
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

732
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...
732
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

1.7K
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...
1.7K
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

622
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
622
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines01:19

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines

1.1K
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...
1.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Changing outcomes: trauma, disordered sleep, and suicide.

Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine·2025
Same author

The Persistent Paradox of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REMS): Brain Waves and Dreaming.

Brain sciences·2024
Same author

The effects of altitude associated central apnea on the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: comparative data from three different altitude locations in the mountain west.

Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine·2011
Same author

The nightmares of sleep apnea: nightmare frequency declines with increasing apnea hypopnea index.

Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine·2010
Same author

Excessive daytime sleepiness.

American family physician·2009
Same author

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in primary care: evidence-based practice.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM·2007
Same journal

Sleep in Women.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Future Research Direction for Women's Sleep Health.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Sleep Disturbance and Female Infertility.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Circadian Disruption Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Sleep Duration and Mortality in Women: Effect of Aging and Menopause.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Update on Restless Legs Syndrome Management during Pregnancy.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Videos

Drug-Induced Hypersomnolence.

J F Pagel1

  • 1Rocky Mountain Sleep Disorders Center, Southern Colorado Family Medicine Residency Program, Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, PO Box 3065, Pueblo, CO 81005, USA.

Sleep Medicine Clinics
|August 6, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Daytime somnolence from medications is a significant safety concern, contributing to over 30% of US motor vehicle accident deaths. This study classifies drugs by their potential to cause next-day sedation, aiding safer prescribing.

Keywords:
DrugHypnoticsMVAMedicationSedativesSide effectsSomnolence

Related Experiment Videos

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Safety
  • Transportation Safety

Background:

  • Daytime somnolence is a frequent adverse drug effect.
  • Sedating drug use is implicated in over 30% of US motor vehicle accident deaths.
  • This issue extends to prescribed medications, not just illicit substances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present pharmacodynamics, performance, and driving data for somnolence-inducing agents.
  • To classify these agents based on their potential for next-day sedation after nighttime use.
  • To provide a framework for healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pharmacodynamics.
  • Analysis of performance and driving tests.
  • Examination of motor vehicle accident data related to somnolence-inducing agents.
  • Classification of agents into hypnotics, sedatives, or those with sedation as a side effect.

Main Results:

  • Identified key somnolence-inducing agents.
  • Established a classification system based on the propensity for next-day sedation.
  • Highlighted the link between sedating medications and impaired driving performance.

Conclusions:

  • A classification system for somnolence-inducing agents is proposed.
  • This classification aids prescribers, pharmacists, and regulators in managing risks.
  • Improved understanding can reduce medication-related motor vehicle accidents.