Sleep hypnotics

Chan TY, Tang CH, Critchley JA. (1995). Poisoning due to an over-the-counter hypnotic, Sleep-Qik (hyoscine, cyproheptadine, valerian). Postgrad MedJ. 71(834) 227-8. 

Drugs in this category have an accepted medical use and a relatively low potential for abuse compared to Schedule 3. Use may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence. Many drugs in this category are hypnotic (sleep-inducing) or anesthetic in effect. Phenobarbital, barbital, and chloral hydrate are examples. 

Drugs acting on the central nervous system - hypnotics sleeping tablets ... 

The analogy with sleep implicitly drawn in the suggestions and the repeated suggestions of sleepy, drowsy feelings are very powerful. Hypnosis does not have to be induced by reference to sleep, but it is the most common way. Sleep is the universal altered state of consciousness, the one we have all experienced, the one we all understand. There is an implicit understanding between hypnotist and subject, of course, that this is not ordinary sleep but hypnotic sleep, a special sleeplike state in which the subject can still hear and respond to the hypnotist. 

The compound so formed, chloral hydrate, was discovered by Liebig in 1832 and was introduced as one of the first sedatives and hypnotics (sleep-inducing substances) in 1869. It is now most commonly encountered in detective fiction as a Mickey Finn or knockout drops. ... 

Barbituric acid was first synthesized in 1864 by Adolph von Baeyer. It apparently was named at a tavern on St. Barbara s day and is derived from urea. At the turn of the century the great chemist Emil Fischer synthesized the first hypnotic (sleep-inducing) barbiturate, the 5,5-diethyl derivative, at the direction of von Mering. Von Mering, who made the seminal discovery that removal of the pancreas causes diabetes, named the new derivative of barbituric acid Veronal because he regarded Verona as the most restful city on earth. 

Medically, ethyl alcohol is classified as a hypnotic (sleep producer) it is less toxic than other alcohols. (Methanol, for example, is quite poisonous drinking it, breathing it for prolonged periods, or allowing it to remain long on the skin can lead to blindness or death.)... 

As measured by objective and subjective criteria, both zolpidem and flurazepam were effective hypnotics. Sleep stages were affected more by flurazepam than by zolpidem. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was approximately the same for zolpidem (10 mg), flurazepam, and placebo. The 20-mgdose of zolpidem (twice the therapeutic dose) was associated with a higher incidence of adverse effects. It was concluded that no next day residual effects are associated with nightly intake (three nights) of the recommended dose of zolpidem. At this dose, zolpidem was an effective and safe hypnotic (75). 

Barbiturates and benzodiazepines enhance the actions of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (Fig 3.6). Tables 3.8A, 3.8B and 3.8C compare barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Agents from both classes are effective sedative-hypnotics (sleep-inducing agents), antianxiety agents, and anticonvulsants (Table 3.9). Physicians prescribe benzodiazepines more often than barbiturates because they cause fewer side effects. 

A sedative hypnotic (sleeping pill) would not be questioned for a client with a total knee replacement. 

Ethanol is a hypnotic (sleep producer). It depresses activity in the upper brain even though it gives the illusion of being a stimulant. Ethanol is also toxic, but it is much less toxic than methanol. In rats the lethal dose of ethanol is 13.7 g kg of body weight. 

Write a retrosynthetic analysis and then synthetic reactions that could be used to prepare racemic Meparfynol, a mild hypnotic (sleep-inducing compound), starting with compounds of four carbon atoms or fewer. 

The barbiturates, which include several important drugs used as sedatives (tranquilizers) and hypnotics (sleep-producers), are closely related to the pyrimidines. The structural formulas of barbituric acid and two of its derivatives are given below in these formulas the distribution of the hydrogen atoms between oxygen and nitrogen is uncertain, and... 

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