ALH 2202 TOPIC 3 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026/2027
Chapter 12: CNS Depressants & Muscle Relaxants - ANS ✔✔
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants - ANS ✔✔Drugs that slow activity in the brain and
spinal cord
Sedative - ANS ✔✔Drug that calms the CNS without causing sleep at normal doses
Hypnotic - ANS ✔✔Drug that induces sleep with stronger CNS depression
Sedative-Hypnotic - ANS ✔✔Drug that acts as a sedative or hypnotic depending on dose
Sleep - ANS ✔✔Reversible state of rest with reduced activity and consciousness
REM Sleep - ANS ✔✔Sleep phase essential for mental rest and cognition
REM Interference - ANS ✔✔Decreased REM sleep caused by sedative-hypnotics
REM Rebound - ANS ✔✔Excessive REM sleep after abrupt discontinuation of sedative-hypnotics
Therapeutic Index - ANS ✔✔Ratio between toxic and therapeutic drug levels
Benzodiazepines MOA - ANS ✔✔Enhance GABA activity causing CNS depression
, GABA Analogy - ANS ✔✔Benzodiazepines push harder on the brain's brake pedal
Benzodiazepine Uses - ANS ✔✔Anxiety relief sedation sleep induction muscle relaxation
seizures alcohol withdrawal
Benzodiazepine Adverse Effects - ANS ✔✔Drowsiness dizziness headache cognitive impairment
fall risk
Benzodiazepine Overdose - ANS ✔✔Somnolence confusion diminished reflexes
Benzodiazepine Antidote - ANS ✔✔Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Flumazenil MOA - ANS ✔✔Competitively blocks benzodiazepine receptors
Benzodiazepine Dependence - ANS ✔✔Habit forming requires gradual taper
Benzodiazepine Drug Interactions - ANS ✔✔Alcohol opioids muscle relaxants increase CNS
depression
Benzodiazepine Black Box Warning - ANS ✔✔Risk of respiratory depression coma and death
with opioids
Diazepam (Valium) - ANS ✔✔Long-acting benzodiazepine for anxiety seizures muscle relaxation
Midazolam (Versed) - ANS ✔✔Short-acting benzodiazepine used for procedural sedation and
amnesia
Temazepam (Restoril) - ANS ✔✔Intermediate-acting hypnotic for sleep
ANSWERS 2026/2027
Chapter 12: CNS Depressants & Muscle Relaxants - ANS ✔✔
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants - ANS ✔✔Drugs that slow activity in the brain and
spinal cord
Sedative - ANS ✔✔Drug that calms the CNS without causing sleep at normal doses
Hypnotic - ANS ✔✔Drug that induces sleep with stronger CNS depression
Sedative-Hypnotic - ANS ✔✔Drug that acts as a sedative or hypnotic depending on dose
Sleep - ANS ✔✔Reversible state of rest with reduced activity and consciousness
REM Sleep - ANS ✔✔Sleep phase essential for mental rest and cognition
REM Interference - ANS ✔✔Decreased REM sleep caused by sedative-hypnotics
REM Rebound - ANS ✔✔Excessive REM sleep after abrupt discontinuation of sedative-hypnotics
Therapeutic Index - ANS ✔✔Ratio between toxic and therapeutic drug levels
Benzodiazepines MOA - ANS ✔✔Enhance GABA activity causing CNS depression
, GABA Analogy - ANS ✔✔Benzodiazepines push harder on the brain's brake pedal
Benzodiazepine Uses - ANS ✔✔Anxiety relief sedation sleep induction muscle relaxation
seizures alcohol withdrawal
Benzodiazepine Adverse Effects - ANS ✔✔Drowsiness dizziness headache cognitive impairment
fall risk
Benzodiazepine Overdose - ANS ✔✔Somnolence confusion diminished reflexes
Benzodiazepine Antidote - ANS ✔✔Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Flumazenil MOA - ANS ✔✔Competitively blocks benzodiazepine receptors
Benzodiazepine Dependence - ANS ✔✔Habit forming requires gradual taper
Benzodiazepine Drug Interactions - ANS ✔✔Alcohol opioids muscle relaxants increase CNS
depression
Benzodiazepine Black Box Warning - ANS ✔✔Risk of respiratory depression coma and death
with opioids
Diazepam (Valium) - ANS ✔✔Long-acting benzodiazepine for anxiety seizures muscle relaxation
Midazolam (Versed) - ANS ✔✔Short-acting benzodiazepine used for procedural sedation and
amnesia
Temazepam (Restoril) - ANS ✔✔Intermediate-acting hypnotic for sleep