Question

List three other drugs used for anxiety or sleep that are not classified as benzodiazepines or barbiturates. List the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse reactions, and important drug–drug interactions for each of these medications

Answer 1

1. Antianxiety : By the name itself it denotes this group of medication will use for anxiety.The actions of antianxiety medication is to reduce anxiety. This group of medication will suppress the CNS activity and produces relaxation for anxiety patients.In our body limbic system is responsible for emotional behavior. So this antianxiety medication suppresses the limbic system.There by the anxiety patients will get relaxation. The other action of antianxiety is ,it will increase the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA is one of the neurotransmitters which depresses the CNS activity.There by this action antianxiety is helpful in reducing anxiety. Side effects of antianxiety drugs are sleepiness in the daytime, headache , decreased blood pressure , tremor , constipation , lethargy and some behavioural changes. Overdosage and overusage will lead to toxicity. The toxic symptoms are confused state , excessive sleepiness and sometimes coma.

Sedative hypnotics are used to treat anxiety. This group of medication depresses the reticular activating system there by promotes synaptic action inhibition of the neurotransmitter GABA.The sedative hypnotics are zolpidem , chloral hydrate , ramelteon etc. The side effects of sedative hypnotics are confusion , irritability , dizziness, drowsiness , allergic reactions etc. The toxic effects of sedative hypnotics are increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, suppressed respiration , dilated pupils , shock and sometimes coma.Some of the instructions to be given when administering these medications. Ask the patient to take these medications with a glass of water or food or fruit juice to prevent gastric irritation. Advice the patient to take medicine half an hour before bedtime for better sleep and for the patients who are having difficulty in sleeping.

Hypnotics and sedatives are major group of drugs to induce sleep and used in some cases of anxiety.