Sedative Hypnotics

Question 1

how many people are suffering from GAD over 15?

Answer 1

• 3% of Canadians aged 15+ are suffering from GAD in the past 12months

Question 2

anxiolytics

Answer 2

• substances designed to blunt or alleviate the feelings of anxiety
• they depress the CNS, induce sleep and dull awarenesses

Question 3

what is a sedative-hypnotic?

Answer 3

• a drug that depresses the activity of the CNS and typically has medical uses of relieving anxiety and inducing sleep

Question 4

what was the earliest substance in common use as an anxiolytic?

Answer 4

• ethanol
• alcohol was the major component in most of the patent medicines in the late 1800s
• alcohol continues to be used today to self-medicate for anxiety but bc of the numerous side effects it’s not a good anxiolytic

Question 5

Chloral Hydrate

Answer 5

• synthesized in 1832and was widely abused during the mid to late 1800s
• some celebrities who have died using it are Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith
• this drug combined with alcohol produced what was known as “knock out drops” or “Mickey Finn”
• Mickey Finn was an early form of a date rape drug