Concepts of Health and Wellness

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Chapter 6
CNS Depressants Sedative-Hypnotics http//www.uni
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CNS Depressants

• Also Known as sedative-hypnotics
• Drugs that slow down the overall activity of the
  CNS
• From mild sedative to death
• Some of the most widely used in the US

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History

• Traditionally the most common depressant was used
  to forget problems and relax
• This Depressant was what???

Alcohol
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History

• 1800s ? Bromides
• Popular until toxicities
• 1900s ? Barbiturates
• Problems with dependency, tolerance, and
  overdoses
• 1950s?Benzodiaxepines
• Substitutes for barbiturates

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Barbiturates

• Potent CNS depressants that replaced bromides
• Usually not preferred due to their narrow margin
  of safety

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Bensodiazepines

• The most popular and safest CNS depressant in use
  today
• Not extremely effective as anti-anxiety drugs

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CNS Depressant Drugs

• Alcohol
• Barbiturate-like drugs
• Benzodiazepines
• Antihistamines
• Opioid narcotics

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Antihistamines

• Drugs that are often used to treat allergies and
  tend to cause CNS depression

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Depressant Classifications

• Depressants are classified according to their
  effects on the body

Sedatives
Hypnotics
Anesthesia
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Sedatives

• Cause mild depression and relaxation
• Depressants used to relieve anxiety, fear, and
  apprehension
• Used to treat extreme anxiety and is called an
  anxiolytic

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Hypnotics

• CNS depressants used to encourage sleep by
  inducing drowsiness

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Depressant Doses

• CNS depressants tend to be dose-dependant
• A large dose of a sedative may lead to a hypnotic
  effect

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Anesthesia

• A deep depression of the CNS, used to achieve a
  controlled state of unconsciousness without
  negative memories
• May be obtained by further increasing a hypnotic
  dose

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Amnesiac

• Causing the loss of memory

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Types of CNS Depressants

• Benzodiazepines
• Valium-type drugs
• Barbiturates
• Other CNS depressants

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Benzodiazepines

• The most frequently prescribed CNS depressant for
  anxiety and sleep
• Wide margin of safety
• Used for sedatives and hypnotics

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Benzodiazepines

• Librium, The first benzodiazepine, was developed
  in the 1960s
• Valium was next and was the top selling
  prescription in the US from 1972 to 1978

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Benzodiazepines

• Classified as Schedule IV because of their
  dependence problems
• Over prescribed due to their perceived safety???

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Benzodiazepines

• Medical Uses
• Many therapeutic uses such as
• Relief of anxiety/compulsive
• Treatment of neurosis
• Relaxation of muscles
• Treatment of back pain
• Sleep withdrawal symptoms
• Amnesia

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Benzodiazepines

• Side effects
• Drowsiness/lethargy
• Lightheadedness
• Mental/physical activities impaired
• Skin rashes/nausea
• Increased sensitivity?depressants

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Benzodiazepines

• Benzodiazepines can produce paradoxical effects
• Paradoxical effects Unexpected effects such as
  anxiety or restlessness

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Barbiturates

• Barbital(Veronal), The first barbiturate, was
  used 1900
• All end in al (barbital)
• Treatment of anxiety, agitation, and insomnia
• Narrow Margin of Safety

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Barbiturates

• Depress the action of the CNS in general
• At sedative and hypnotic doses the CNS is
  affected
• At anesthetic doses decreases heart rate, blood
  pressure, and urine flow are evidenced

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Non-barbiturate Drugs

• Many chemicals have depressant effects and are
  important due to possible synergistic effects
• Even found in some OTC products
• Include

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Non-barbiturate Drugs

• Chloral Hydrate IV
• Knock-out-drops
• Glutethimide III
• Street drug
• Methyprylon III
• Used as sedative/hypnotic
• Methaqualone (Quaalude) II

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Antihistamines

• Used in OTC and prescription medicines
• The most common use is to relieve symptoms of the
  common cold, allergies, and motion sickness

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Assignment

• Read Chapter 7
• Be ready for a quiz