Sleep Disorder Drugs (cont.)
Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, PharmD, MBA
Dr. Gbemudu received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Nova Southeastern University, her PharmD degree from University of Maryland, and MBA degree from University of Baltimore. She completed a one year post-doctoral fellowship with Rutgers University and Bristol Myers Squibb.
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
In this Article
- Sleep disorder drugs (hypnotic and sedative drugs) overview
- For what conditions are hypnotics used?
- Are there differences among hypnotics?
- What are the side effects of hypnotics?
- What are the drug interactions of hypnotics?
- What are some examples of hypnotic medications?
- Nonbarbiturates
- Barbiturates
- Nonprescription sleep-aids
- Anti-Parkinson drugs
- Opiates
- Anticonvulsants
- Antinarcoleptics
What are some examples of hypnotic medications?
1. Nonbarbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines have a variety of uses, which include inducing sedation and sleep, relieving anxiety, agitation, and muscle spasms, and prevention of seizures. In general, they help in increasing total sleep time. With benzodiazepines, there may be issues of dependence, toxicity and abuse.
Examples of benzodiazepines:
- Prosom (estazolam)
- Dalmane (flurazepam)
- Doral (quazepam)
- Restoril (temazepam)
- Halcion (triazolam)
- Valium (diazepam)
Non-benzodiazepines
This is a newer class of drugs that is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. They cause the onset of sleep to occur faster and allow for a longer period of sleep throughout the night. Non-benzodiazepines have a short half-life and have less chance of causing dependency, tolerance, and impairment of daytime activities due to carry-over effects.
Examples of non-benzodiazepines:
- Imidazopyridines: Ambien, Ambien CR, Intermezzo (zolpidem) (class of its own)
- Sonata (pyrazolopyrimidine) (class of its own)
- melatonin receptor stimulator: Rozerem (ramelteon)
- Notec (chloral hydrate)
- Precedex (dexmedetomidine hydrochloride)
- Lunesta (eszopiclone)
Next: Barbiturates
REFERENCE: FDA Prescribing Information.
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