Hypnotic 14269 221682520 2008-06-25T16:35:56Z Arcadian 104523 /* References */ +1nav, -2 {{Mergeto | Sedative | Talk:Sedative#Merge proposal |date=April 2008 }} : ''For the state of mind see [[Hypnosis]].'' {{otheruses}} '''Hypnotic''' drugs induce [[sleep]]<ref name="urlDorlands Medical Dictionary:hypnotic">{{cite web |url=http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/four/000051451.htm |title=Dorlands Medical Dictionary:hypnotic |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref> (which differentiates them from the [[sedative]] category), used in the treatment of [[insomnia]] and in surgical [[anesthesia]]. Often the treatment of insomnia will not begin with drugs at all. Since many hypnotic drugs are habit-forming, a physician will usually recommend alternative sleeping patterns, [[sleep hygiene]], and exercise before prescribing medication for sleep, due to a large number of factors known to disturb the human sleep pattern. ==Examples== These drugs include: * [[Barbiturate]]s * [[Opioid]]s * [[Benzodiazepine]]s ** [[Estazolam]] ** [[Flunitrazepam]] ** [[Midazolam]] ** [[Nitrazepam]] ** [[Temazepam]] ** [[Triazolam]] * [[Nonbenzodiazepine]]s ** [[Zolpidem]] ** [[Zaleplon]] ** [[Zopiclone]] ** [[Eszopiclone]] * [[Antihistamine]]s ** [[Diphenhydramine]] ** [[Doxylamine]] ** [[Hydroxyzine]] ** [[Promethazine]] * [[gamma-hydroxybutyric acid]] ([[Xyrem]]) * [[Glutethimide]] * [[Chloral hydrate]] * [[Ethchlorvynol]] * [[Levomepromazine]] * [[Chlormethiazole]] * [[Melatonin]], a hormone, can work as a hypnotic if taken 30-90 minutes before usual bedtime. * [[Alcoholic beverage|Alcohol]] is also used as a hypnotic drug, though not medically. To quote the [[British National Formulary]]: "Alcohol is a poor hypnotic because its diuretic action interferes with sleep during the latter part of the night. Alcohol also disturbs sleep patterns, and so can worsen sleep disorders" ==References== {{reflist}} {{Major drug groups}} {{Hypnotics and sedatives}} [[Category:Hypnotics|Hypnotics]] {{pharma-stub}} [[ar:منوم]] [[cs:Hypnotikum]] [[de:Schlafmittel]] [[es:Hipnótico]] [[fr:Hypnotique]] [[nl:Slaapmiddel]] [[ja:睡眠導入剤]] [[no:Hypnotika]] [[pt:Hipnótico]] [[ru:Снотворные средства]] [[sk:Hypnotikum]] [[sr:Хипнотици]] [[sv:Hypnotika]] [[tr:Hipnotik]] [[zh:安眠药]]