SEDATIVE AND HYPNOTIC DRUGS

Anxiolytic drugs are used to treat the symptoms of anxiety, where as hypnotic drugs used to
treat insomnia. The same drugs are used for both purposes.
Classes of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs: The main groups of the drugs are:

1. Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are the most important group, used as sedative and
   hypnotic agents.
2. 5- HT1A receptor agonist (e.g. buspirone). It is recently introduced anxiolytic.
3. Barbiturates (phenobarbitone). They are nowadays less commonly used as sedativehypnotics.
4. β -adrenoceptor antagonists (e.g. propranolol). They are used to treat some forms of anxiety,
   where physical symptoms (sweating, tremor, and tachycardia), are troublesome. They are
   not used as hypnotics.
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5. Miscellaneous drugs (chloral hydrate, paraldehyde, and diphenhydramine). These drugs are
   not commonly recommended for axiety or insomia