and CORRECT Answers
low doses of sedative-hypnotics cause - CORRECT ANSWER - anti-anxiety
medium-low doses of sedative hypnotics cause - CORRECT ANSWER - relieve anxiety,
decrease activity, moderate excitement, calm
Medium-high doses of sedative hypnotics - CORRECT ANSWER - hypnosis (sleep) -
drowsiness, aid in onset and maintenance of sleep
High dose of sedative hypnotics - CORRECT ANSWER - general anesthesia -
unconscious, absence of pain
How do depative-hypnotics work? - CORRECT ANSWER - Bind to different sites than
GABA on the chloride channel, enhancing the inhibitory effect of GABA
How does GABA cause inhibition? - CORRECT ANSWER - Binds to chloride channels
and selectively opens them
Causes hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane, making it harder for the postsynaptic
neurons to transmit incoming messages
Depresses CNS neuronal signalling
Activation of the benzodiazepine receptor... - CORRECT ANSWER - increases the
frequency of the opening of the chloride channel
What is the most common drug involved in overdose? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Benzodiazepines
but they have a wide margin of safety so deaths are rare - need a very large dose, rapid injection,
or mixing with other drugs
, What is the antidote to benzodiazepines? - CORRECT ANSWER - Flumazenil
What type of sleep do benzodiazepines cause? - CORRECT ANSWER - REM-type
Short term effects of benzodiazepines - CORRECT ANSWER - CNS: relaxation,
calmness, reduced anxiert, drowsiness, fatigue, impairment of thinking/memory
Lungs: respiratory depression following rapid intravenous administration
Motor coordination: moderate doses can impair motor coordination and driving, response
exaggerated as dose is increased
Chronic sedative-hypnotic intoxication - CORRECT ANSWER - impaired thinking, poor
memory and judgement, disorientation, incoordination, slurred speech
Benzodiazepines and pregnancy/breastfeeding - CORRECT ANSWER - Can cross the
placenta
If administered in the first trimester results in a small but significant risk for fetal abnormalities
Are secreted into breast milk which can lead to sedation or death of baby
Abuse and dependence of benzodiazepines often in combination with - CORRECT
ANSWER - alcohol to enhance depressant effects
Abuse liability of benzodiazepines is... - CORRECT ANSWER - low since they have weak
reinforcing properties
Inherent harmfulness of benzodiazepines is... - CORRECT ANSWER - low (high margin
of safety)
Does not depress respiration at therapeutic doses
Often does not lead to death on its own