Chapter 28 Drug therapy for Insomnia Exam Questions Fully Solved Latest Update 2025
Insomnia - Answers is the inability to go to sleep or remain asleep through the night
Symptoms include: difficulty falling asleep, waking often during the night or early morning, and not
feeling rested after sleep.
Failing to get enough sleep because of insomnia causes.. - Answers sleep deprivation, which is a
shortage of quality undisturbed sleep that reduces physical and mental well- being.
Coordination, judgement, reaction time, and social function are all impaired by lack of sleep.
Sleep deprivation decreases? - Answers immune function and increases the risk for infection.
The most commonly prescribed sleep drugs are? - Answers Sedatives
sedatives are a broad group of drugs that promote sleep by acting on signals in the central nervous
system to produce calm and ease agitation.
Sedatives include - Answers Benzodiazepine Receptors agonists
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Antihistamines
Sedating antidepressants
Skeletal muscle relaxants
Benzodiazepine receptors agonists (Non- benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics) - Answers class of drugs
that interact with the same receptor site that benzodiazepine drugs do, turning on the receptors to
induce sleep.
Drugs from this class are now the first- line sleep aids to treat insomnia.
, - less likely to be addictive
Benzodiazepines - Answers drugs that depress the central nervous system by binding to gamma
aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, resulting in hypnotic and sedating effects.
GABA is in inhibitory rather than excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. When increased amounts of
GABA are present or GABA receptors are stimulated CNS activity is reduced.
Although benzodiazepines are mainly used to treat anxiety or stress, a few are used as a short term
treatment of insomnia.
They can be habit forming when uses for prolonged periods of time ( 2-4 weeks) and are no longer the
first line drugs for insomnia.
Barbiturates - Answers drugs formed from barbituric acid that induce a general depression over all CNS
functions along with inducing sedation.
Although rarely used for general insomnia, the barbiturates may be prescribed short-term when other
drugs for insomnia have not been SUCCESSFUL.
**** MOST BARBITURATES INCLUDING THOSE USED FOR SLEEP ARE CATEGORIZED AS SCHEDULE II
controlled substances with a high potential for abuse and dependence.
In addition, because all CHS functions are depressed, overdoses with the barbiturates are serious and
can lead to death.
These drugs are more commonly used to induce sedation and reduce anxiety before surgery. Some are
used as part o seizure control management with epilepsy.
What barbiturate drugs are rarely used for insomnia because they are classified as schedule II controlled
substances with a high potential for abuse and addiction? - Answers pentobarbital and secobarbital
Antihistamines - Answers Drugs used to treat allergies and allergic reactions. Some such as
diphenhydramine (Allerdryl Benadryl) have sedating effects and are available over the counter.
Insomnia - Answers is the inability to go to sleep or remain asleep through the night
Symptoms include: difficulty falling asleep, waking often during the night or early morning, and not
feeling rested after sleep.
Failing to get enough sleep because of insomnia causes.. - Answers sleep deprivation, which is a
shortage of quality undisturbed sleep that reduces physical and mental well- being.
Coordination, judgement, reaction time, and social function are all impaired by lack of sleep.
Sleep deprivation decreases? - Answers immune function and increases the risk for infection.
The most commonly prescribed sleep drugs are? - Answers Sedatives
sedatives are a broad group of drugs that promote sleep by acting on signals in the central nervous
system to produce calm and ease agitation.
Sedatives include - Answers Benzodiazepine Receptors agonists
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Antihistamines
Sedating antidepressants
Skeletal muscle relaxants
Benzodiazepine receptors agonists (Non- benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics) - Answers class of drugs
that interact with the same receptor site that benzodiazepine drugs do, turning on the receptors to
induce sleep.
Drugs from this class are now the first- line sleep aids to treat insomnia.
, - less likely to be addictive
Benzodiazepines - Answers drugs that depress the central nervous system by binding to gamma
aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, resulting in hypnotic and sedating effects.
GABA is in inhibitory rather than excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. When increased amounts of
GABA are present or GABA receptors are stimulated CNS activity is reduced.
Although benzodiazepines are mainly used to treat anxiety or stress, a few are used as a short term
treatment of insomnia.
They can be habit forming when uses for prolonged periods of time ( 2-4 weeks) and are no longer the
first line drugs for insomnia.
Barbiturates - Answers drugs formed from barbituric acid that induce a general depression over all CNS
functions along with inducing sedation.
Although rarely used for general insomnia, the barbiturates may be prescribed short-term when other
drugs for insomnia have not been SUCCESSFUL.
**** MOST BARBITURATES INCLUDING THOSE USED FOR SLEEP ARE CATEGORIZED AS SCHEDULE II
controlled substances with a high potential for abuse and dependence.
In addition, because all CHS functions are depressed, overdoses with the barbiturates are serious and
can lead to death.
These drugs are more commonly used to induce sedation and reduce anxiety before surgery. Some are
used as part o seizure control management with epilepsy.
What barbiturate drugs are rarely used for insomnia because they are classified as schedule II controlled
substances with a high potential for abuse and addiction? - Answers pentobarbital and secobarbital
Antihistamines - Answers Drugs used to treat allergies and allergic reactions. Some such as
diphenhydramine (Allerdryl Benadryl) have sedating effects and are available over the counter.
