RT Book, Section A1 Katzung, Bertram G. A1 Kruidering-Hall, Marieke A1 Trevor, Anthony J. SR Print(0) ID 1156528656 T1 Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs T2 Katzung & Trevor's Pharmacology: Examination & Board Review, 12e YR 2019 FD 2019 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259641022 LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1156528656 RD 2024/03/28 AB The sedative-hypnotics belong to a chemically heterogeneous class of drugs, almost all of which produce dose-dependent CNS depressant effects that cause sedation (with relief of anxiety) or hypnosis (encourage sleep). The major subgroup is the benzodiazepines, but representatives of other subgroups, including barbiturates, and miscellaneous agents (carbamates, alcohols, and cyclic ethers) are still in use. Atypical drugs with distinctive characteristics include the anxiolytic buspirone, several widely used hypnotics (zolpidem, zaleplon, eszopiclone), and melatonin agonists and orexin antagonists, novel drugs used in sleep disorders.