PHA 3112 Chapter Notes - Chapter 34: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Anterograde Amnesia

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Pharmacology
• Course: PHA 3112
• Professor: Pierre Fortier

Document Summary

Sedative-hypnotics: drugs that depress cns function & primarily used to treat anxiety & insomnia. Antianxiety agents or anxiolytics (tranquilizers=older term): agents given to relieve anxiety. Single drug may be considered both antianxiety & hypnotic agent depending on reason & dosage used. 3 major sedative-hypnotic groups: barbiturates (ex secobarbital), benzodiazepines (ex diazepam), , benzodiazepine-like drugs (exzolpidem). Benzos preferred for treati(cid:374)g a(cid:374)(cid:454)iet(cid:455) & i(cid:374)so(cid:373)(cid:374)ia (cid:272)uz the(cid:455)"re just as effe(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e as ge(cid:374)eral cn depressa(cid:374)ts (cid:271)ut do(cid:374)"t share sa(cid:373)e u(cid:374)desira(cid:271)le properties (cid:894)share #(cid:1006) + (cid:1007)(cid:895) Benzodiazepines: 1st choice drugs for anxiety & insomnia; also to induce general anesthesia, manage seizure disorders, muscle spasm, panic disorder, & alcohol wd. Diazepam (valium) = most familiar; lorazepam (ativan) & alprazolam (xanax) = most frequently prescribed. Because all benzos produce nearly identical effects, we consider family as group instead of choosing representative member as a prototype. All similar responses produced by benzos caused by actions in the cns.