I wish to propose a hypothesis that could help explain some of the effects of baclofen in alcohol dependence that are described in Dr. Bucknam’s case study (Bucknam, 2007) and in my self-case report (Ameisen, 2005). At a behavioural level, alcohol, baclofen and GHB all share sedative/hypnotic effects in humans. Clinical trials have shown baclofen to reduce anxiety in alcoholic (Krupitsky et al ...

Indiplon (NBI 34060; N-methyl-N-[3-[3-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-alpha]pyrimidin-7-yl]phenyl]acetamide), a novel pyrazolopyrimidine and high-affinity allosteric potentiator of GABA(A) receptor function, was profiled for its effects in rodents after oral administration. In mice, indiplon inhibited locomotor activity (ED(50) = 2.7 mg/kg p.o.) at doses lower than the nonbenzodiazepine hypnot...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To update and review the application of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia and intensive care. This study is a comprehensive review of clinical uses, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action and adverse effects of dexmedetomidine. CONTENT The effective use of sedative-hypnotic agents and analgesics is an integral part of comfort and safety of patients. Dexmedet...

Dioclea grandiflora Mart. ex Bent., known as Mucuna or Mucuna of stone, is a member of the Leguminosae family, popularly used for its possible effects on the Central Nervous System (CNS). Reports mention sedative, tonic, and also antiepileptic properties for this plant. In this paper a screening for CNS action was done with aqueous extracts of the seeds. This study was carried out using some an...

PURPOSE To review the mechanisms of sedative-hypnotic action with respect to the risk of delirium imparted by drugs that act on γ-amino-butyric-acid type A receptors or α(2) adrenoceptors. SOURCE MEDLINE was searched for relevant articles. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Development of the acute confusional state of delirium is associated with longer intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of sta...

Insomnia disorder is a widespread and refractory disease. Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, Suanzaoren, a well-known Chinese herbal medicine, has been used for treating insomnia for thousands of years. Here, we aimed to assess the available evidence of Chinese herbal formulae that contains Suanzaoren (FSZR) for insomnia according to high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and reviewed their poss...

BACKGROUND HX0969w is a novel water-soluble prodrug designed to release propofol and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and has a sedative-hypnotic effect. This study was performed to compare the efficacy of HX0969w with fospropofol in mice and rats. METHODS We performed hydrolysis studies in the plasma from mice and rats. The half-maximal effective doses (ED50) and half-maximal lethal doses (LD50) ...

Cortical evoked response audiometry is adequate for approximating hearing threshold levels with frequency specificity when the psychoacoustic responses lack reliability and reproducibility (compensation claim). It is well-known that control of wakefulness is essential for the reliability of slow vertex responses (SVR). Therefore, sedative, hypnotic, and neuroleptic drugs are supposed to have po...