Pharmacology Drug Families

Front 1

Barbiturates

Back 1

class of drugs that are chemical derivatives of barbituric acid. They can induce sedation and sleep. The "al" family, as in butabarbital, phenobarbital, thiopental, etc. Can suppress REM sleep.

Front 2

Benzodiazepines

Back 2

chemical category of drugs most frequently prescribed as sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs. the "am" family/class, as in diazepam, lorazepam, etc. Preferable to barbiturates.

Front 3

GABA

Back 3

Gamma-aminobutyric acid: an inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the brain. The PRIMARY inhibitory NT of the brain, serves to modulate CNS activity by inhibiting overstimulation.

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-REM sleep

Back 5

largest portion of the sleep cycle, it preceeds REM sleep

Front 6

REM sleep

Back 6

Rapid Eye Movement sleep: one of the stages of the sleep cycle. some of the characteristics of REM sleep are rapid movement of the eyes, vivid dreams, and 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

Sedative-Hypnotics

Back 10

drugs that can act in the body either as sedatives or as hypnotics

Front 11

Sleep architecture

Back 11

structure of the various elements involved in the sleep cycle, including normal and abnormal patters of sleep