August 9, 2019
Chapter 20
Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Agents
Anxiety – feeling of tension, nervousness, apprehension or
fear involving unpleasant reactions to a stimulus
Sedation – loss of awareness and reaction to environmental
stimuli
Hypnosis – Extreme sedation resulting in further CNS
depression and sleep
Types of anxiolytic an hypnotic agents
Anxiolytics – prevent feelings of tension of fear
Sedatives – calm and make patients unaware of the
environments
Hypnotics – cause sleep
Minor tranquilizers – produce a state of tranquility in
anxious patients
ANXIOLYTIC AND HYPNOTIC AGENTS
BENZODIAZEPINE
Act in the limbic system and the RAS
o
Limbic System – motivation, emotion,
learning, memory
o
Reticular activating System – controls
arousal awareness of stimuli; sleep center
Make Gamma aminobutyric acid ( GABA ). More
effective
o
Inhibits nerve activity and is important
Indications :
Anxiety disorders
Alcohol withdrawal – insomnia, rapid heartbeat,
sweating, tremors
Hyperexcitability
Preoperative relief of anxiety and tension
