In postmortem investigations of fatal intoxications it is often challenging to determine which drug/s caused the death. To improve the interpretation of postmortem blood concentrations of sedative and hypnotic drugs and/or clonazepam, all medico-legal autopsies in Sweden - where these drugs had been detected in femoral vein blood during 1992-2006 - were identified in the databases of the Nation...

24. Introduction to Central Nervous System Pharmacology 281 Charles R. Craig 25.General Anesthesia: Intravenous and Inhalational Agents 291 David J. Smith and Michael B. Howie 26.Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesics 310 Sandra P. Welch and Billy R. Martin 27.Local Anesthetics 330 J. David Haddox 28.Agents Affecting Neuromuscular Transmission 338 Michael D. Miyamoto 29.Central Nervous System Stimulan...

Genetically engineered animals (e.g., transgenics, gene knockouts, gene knockins) are being utilized with increasing frequency to investigate the mechanisms of action of alcohol and anesthetics. By creating and analyzing animals that harbor precise, preplanned changes in candidate genes, researchers are rapidly making progress toward uncovering how these drugs exert their effects on the central...

The GABA(A) receptors are the major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in mammalian brain. Each isoform consists of five homologous or identical subunits surrounding a central chloride ion-selective channel gated by GABA. How many isoforms of the receptor exist is far from clear. GABA(A) receptors located in the postsynaptic membrane mediate neuronal inhibition that occurs in the millisecond...

INTRODUCTION Melissa officinalis is a medical and aromatic plant that is used for its hypnotic, sedative, and spasmolytic effects. This report presents a case study of30-year-old patient who was admitted to an emergency department with restlessness, tremor, distractibility, and sweating following a discontinuation of Melissa officinalis consumption. CASE REPORT In this case, withdrawal sympto...

We investigated the withdrawal of temazepam in a single general practice using two alternative prescribing policies: an alternative benzodiazepine; or an alternative group of drugs recommended for short-term management of insomnia, including sedative antihistamines and chloral hydrate. The study showed that temazepam prescribing in general practice can be reduced or stopped by using a simple in...

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...