Miscellaneous
(Wiki)
Miscellaneous medications that possess sedative effects.
Chloral
Hydrate (Wiki)
Brand names: Aquachloral®, Noctec®,
Novo-Chlorhydrate®, Somnos®, Somnote®
Formula: C2HCL3O
Half life: ~ 7 to 10 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 1000mg per day
[Not
Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 2000mg per day
[Not
Verified]
A
tranquillising and sedative drug, this medication is used as a tranquilliser before minor surgery and as a short term treatment
for insomnia. It has been mostly superceded
by benzodiazepine drugs in these capacities but is still used
in veterinary practices. When mixed with
alcohol, the solution is nicknamed "knockout drops".
Used as a hypnotic, the medication reaches peak effectiveness about an
hour after administration. The drug is mildly addictive and if over used can trigger
withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of treatment; during regular use, the
drug may cause liver damage.
Chlormethiazole
(Wiki)
Brand
names: Distraneurin®, Heminevrin®
Formula: C6H8ClNS
Half life: ~ 2.33 to 3.63 hours (vague
figure; not a reliable figure)
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown
Used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, chlormethiazole exhibits sedative and hypnotic qualities. It also acts as an
anticonvulsant and as a muscle relaxant, making it sound similar to the
typical barbiturate.
The drug acts by increasing the amount
of GABA (Gamma-AminoButyric Acid) within the brain. GABA is instrumental in the role of
sedation and control, so the increase acts as
a sleep instruction for the over-active parts
of the brain.
Chlormethiazole also inhibits the breakdown of
alcohol within the brain by reducing the amount of a chemical
called alcohol dehydrogenase, making it useful for the treatment
of alcoholism.
The Who drummer Keith Moon died due to overdose of this
drug.
CL-218,872 (Wiki)
Brand names:
None known
Formula: C13H9F3N4
Half life: ~ 6 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown
A
sedative/hypnotic drug currently in research, CL-218,872 is also known to cause
amnesia; it produces very similar effects to
that of the hypnotic Imidazopyridine Zolpidem in animal tests.
Eszopiclone (Wiki)
Brand names:
Lunesta®
Formula: C17H17N6ClO3
Half life: ~ 6 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 2mg [Highly
Questionable]
Maximum outpatient dose: 6mg [Highly
Questionable]
An
atypical hypnotic, eszopiclone is closely related to the
drug zopiclone, a Cyclopyrrolone. Interestingly, this
drug can be used in the long term
treatment of insomnia as it does not appear to be
addictive to any notable degree.
Common side effects include a foul taste,
headaches and dizziness; the drug reaches its peak concentration in
the blood stream approximately one hour after
administration.
Ethchlorvynol
(Wiki)
Brand names:
None known
Formula: C7H9ClO
Half life: ~ 35 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown
Largely
superceded, Ethchlorvynol is a sedative/hypnotic drug. Side effects can include skin rashes, faintness, restlessness and euphoria. Unfortunately, the
drug is addictive and is liable to cause
withdrawal problems including convulsions, hallucinations and memory loss. As such, it is very rare for
Ethchlorvynol to be prescribed for more than seven days running.
Glutethimide
(Wiki)
Brand names:
Doriden
Formula: C13H15NO2
Half life: 10 - 12 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 500mg
[Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 1,000mg [Verified]
Introduced
in 1954, Glutethimide was hailed as a safe alternative
to Barbiturates in the treatment of insomnia. Sadly, evidence emerged with use that it was equally
likely to cause addiction and to present withdrawal effects. Worryingly, the
drug can be used recreationally. It was discovered that, when mixed
with the drug Codeine, one could experience a dizzying
high, closely similar to that which Heroin exhibits. The medication goes by the slang names "load", "pack"
and "doors and fours".
SX-3228
(Wiki)
Brand names:
None known
Formula: C18H18N4O3
Half life: Unknown
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: Unknown
Maximum outpatient dose: Unknown
Similar
to Zolpidem and Zaleplon in terms of it's affect on
animals, SX-3228 is a sedative/hypnotic drug currently under research.