Sedative -
Hypnotics (Wiki)
???
Sedative - Hypnotic drugs are medications that induce sleep and general rest, intended to fight,
amongst other things, the symptoms of insomnia - a reduced ability to
sleep soundly or even at all.
Medications labelled as sedative - hypnotics include:
Many sedative - hypnotic medications in general should only be used in
the treatment of severe insomnia as hypnotic medications in general are habit forming and tend
to become useless to the individual after a small number
of doses:
"The
prolonged use of sleeping pills as a relief from frequent
or recurring insomnia can have harmful effects. The body
tends to build up a tolerance to the medication,
necessitating a more potent dosage in order to fall asleep;
habitual use can lead to addiction."
- Encyclopædia Britannica
Primary treatments for insomnia include exercise, dietary changes and
general regimes.
Some antihistamines, specifically diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine, and zaleplon, also exhibit a sedative - hypnotic effect and can offer a less habit
forming method of treatment; they are, however, less effective
than primarily psychiatric medications for this purpose.
Alcohol is often trumped as a
sedative - hypnotic drug but is not nearly as effective as
the medications listed on this site.