Chapter 13: Central Nervous System: Depressants And Muscle Relaxants

Front 1

Barbiturates

Back 1

A class of drugs that are chemical derivatives of barbituric acid. They can induce sedation and sleep.

Front 2

Benzodiazepines

Back 2

A chemical category of drugs most frequently prescribed as sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs.

Front 3

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Back 3

An inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the brain.

Front 4

Hypnotics

Back 4

Drugs that, when given at low to moderate dosages, calm or soothe the CNS without inducing sleep but when given at high dosages, do cause sleep.

Front 5

Non-rapid eye movement (non-REM)

Back 5

The largest portion of the sleep cycle. It characteristically has four stages and precedes REM sleep. Most of a normal sleep cycle consists of non-REM sleep.

Front 6

Rapid eye movement sleep (REM)

Back 6

One of the stages of the sleep cycle. Some of the characteristics of REM sleep are rapid movement of the eyes, vivid dreams, irregular breathing.

Front 7

REM interference

Back 7

A drug induced reduction of REM sleep time.

Front 8

REM rebound

Back 8

Excessive REM sleep following discontinuation of a sleep altering drug.

Front 9

Sedatives

Back 9

Drugs that have an inhibitory effect on the CNS to the degree that they reduce nervousness, excitability, and irritability without causing sleep.

Front 10

Sedatives-hypnotics

Back 10

Drugs that can act in the body either as sedatives or as hynotics.

Front 11

Sleep

Back 11

A transient, reversible, and periodic state of rest in which there is decrease in physical activity and consciousness.

Front 12

Sleep architecture

Back 12

The structure of the various elements involved in the sleep cycle, including normal and abnormal patterns of sleep.

Front 13

Therapeutic index

Back 13

The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug. If the index is low, the difference between the therapeutic and toxic drug concentrations is small, and use of the drug is more hazardous.