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

168
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...
168
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

250
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...
250
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

203
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
203
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

341
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...
341
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

244
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...
244
Depressants01:28

Depressants

107
Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
107

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A comparison of telehealth and in-person delivery of alcohol behavioral couple therapy.

Journal of substance use and addiction treatment·2026
Same author

Examining the Impact of Trial Length on Detecting Medication Effects for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Meta-Regression Study.

Alcohol, clinical & experimental research·2026
Same author

Glutamate- and GABA-targeted drugs for Cc-occurring bipolar and alcohol use disorders: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of N-acetylcysteine, gabapentin, and placebo.

Translational psychiatry·2026
Same author

Aberrant cortico-striato-limbic functional connectivity to alcohol cues in co-occurring bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Participant Demographic and Baseline Drinking Factors Can Predict Alcohol Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy Clinical Trial Completion and Drinking Outcomes.

Alcohol, clinical & experimental research·2026
Same author

Consumption of Reinforcing Solutions Engages Dynamic Activity of the Prelimbic Cortical Outputs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2025

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

2.4K

Sleep as an Important Target or Modifier in Alcohol Use Disorder Clinical Treatment: Example From a Recent Gabapentin

Michaela Hoffman1, Konstantin Voronin, Sarah W Book

  • 1From the Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.

Journal of Addiction Medicine
|June 3, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gabapentin significantly improved sleep and reduced alcohol consumption in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The medication

More Related Videos

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

888
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

1.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2025

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

2.4K
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

888
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

1.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Alcohol use disorder (AUD) significantly impacts sleep quality.
  • Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with AUD.
  • Pharmacotherapy for AUD has not traditionally focused on sleep improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of gabapentin on patient-rated insomnia in an AUD clinical trial.
  • To determine if improvements in insomnia severity influenced gabapentin's efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption.

Main Methods:

  • A 16-week randomized controlled trial involving 90 individuals meeting AUD criteria.
  • Participants received either placebo or gabapentin (up to 1200 mg/day).
  • Outcomes included Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), percent heavy drinking days (PHDD), and percent abstinent days (PDA).

Main Results:

  • Gabapentin treatment led to a greater reduction in ISI (60.6%) compared to placebo (37.8%; P = 0.013).
  • Higher baseline ISI predicted greater drinking reduction in the gabapentin group.
  • Improved ISI independently predicted reduced heavy drinking and increased abstinence, but did not fully mediate gabapentin's effect on drinking.

Conclusions:

  • Gabapentin demonstrates efficacy in improving sleep and reducing alcohol use in individuals with AUD.
  • The therapeutic effect of gabapentin on alcohol consumption appears to involve mechanisms beyond sleep improvement.
  • Findings suggest a direct biological impact of gabapentin on alcohol use.