Sedative: Difference between revisions

A '''sedative''' or '''tranquilizer''' (or '''tranquilliser''', see [[American and British English spelling differences]]) is a substance that induces [[sedation]] by reducing [[irritability]]<ref name="urlJohns Hopkins Colon Cancer Center - Glossary S">{{cite web |url=http://www.hopkinscoloncancercenter.org/index.cfm?cID=194&CFID=1128737&CFTOKEN=20842936 |title=Johns Hopkins Colon Cancer Center - Glossary S |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref> or [[Psychomotor agitation|excitement]].<ref>{{DorlandsDict|seven/000095557|sedative}}</ref>

At higher doses it may result in slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. Doses of sedatives such as [[benzodiazepines]], when used to induce [[sleep]], tend to be higher than amounts used to relieve anxiety, whereas only low doses are needed to provide a peaceful effect.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Montenegro M, Veiga H, Deslandes A, et al. |title=[Neuromodulatory effects of caffeine and bromazepam on visual event-related potential (P300): a comparative study.] |journal=Arq Neuropsiquiatr |volume=63 |issue=2B |pages=410–5 |date=June 2005 |pmid=16059590 |doi=10.1590/S0004-282X2005000300009  |url=http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2005000300009&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en }}</ref>

* ''Anxiolytic'' refers specifically to the effect upon [[anxiety]]. (However, some benzodiazepines can be all three: sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics).

* ''Tranquilizer'' can refer to anxiolytics or [[antipsychotic]]s.

* ''Soporific'' and sleeping pill are near-synonyms for [[hypnotic]]s.

Some sedatives can cause physiological and psychological dependence when taken regularly over a period of time, even at therapeutic doses.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = J Biomed Sci |date=March 2007 | volume = 14 | issue = 2 | pages = 285–97 | title = Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor mediates suanzaorentang, a traditional Chinese herb remedy, -induced sleep alteration | author = Yi PL |author2=Tsai CH |author3=Chen YC |author4=Chang FC  | pmid = 17151826 | doi = 10.1007/s11373-006-9137-z }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | journal = Pharmacol Ther |date=December 2006 | volume = 112 | issue = 3 | pages = 612–29 | title = Treating insomnia: Current and investigational pharmacological approaches | author = Ebert B |author2=Wafford KA |author3=Deacon S  | pmid = 16876255 | doi = 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2005.04.014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | journal = Ann Ital Med Int |date=Oct–December 1998 | volume = 13 | issue = 4 | pages = 237–9 | title = [Barbiturate withdrawal syndrome: a case associated with the abuse of a headache medication] | author = Sarrecchia C |author2=Sordillo P |author3=Conte G |author4=Rocchi G  | pmid = 10349206 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | journal = Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol |date=October 2002 | volume = 37 | issue = 10 | pages = 451–6 | title = Who seeks treatment for alcohol dependence? Findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing | author = Proudfoot H | coauthors = Teesson M; Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing | pmid = 12242622 | doi = 10.1007/s00127-002-0576-1 }}</ref> Dependent users may get withdrawal symptoms ranging from restlessness and insomnia to convulsions and death. When users become psychologically dependent, they feel as if they need the drug to function, although physical dependence does not necessarily occur, particularly with a short course of use. In both types of dependences, finding and using the sedative becomes the focus in life.  Both physical and psychological dependence can be treated with therapy. (see [http://www.mentalhealth.com/rx/p23-sb10.html Sedative Dependence]).

==Therapeutic use==

Doctors often administer sedatives to patients in order to dull the patient's anxiety related to painful or anxiety-provoking procedures. Although sedatives do not relieve pain in themselves, they can be a useful adjunct to [[analgesic]]s in preparing patients for surgery, and are commonly given to patients before they are anaesthetized, or before other highly uncomfortable and invasive procedures. They also increase managability and compliance of children or troublesome or demanding patients.