Pharmacology and sleep

Dating back to the 1800s, some of the earliest snccessfnl psychiatric medications were those nsed to promote sleep. Sleep-promoting medications, called sedative-hypnotics, have remained an important component of onr pharmacological armamentarium. Over the past 100-plus years, as we have learned more abont both pharmacology and sleep physiology, a series of refinements have improved the safety and effectiveness of sleep medications. 

Clinical Issues, Pharmacology, and Sleep Loss Effects... 

This series of monographs, Lung Biology in Health and Disease, includes a number of volumes on sleep, the first one having been published in 1984. Seven of these volumes have been exclusively about one or another aspect of sleep, and others, on different subjects, included components related to sleep. However, lack of sleep did not achieve stardom in this series until Dr. Clete Kushida from the world-famous Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Center accepted the invitation to edit this volume on Sleep Deprivation Clinical Issues, Pharmacology, and Sleep Loss Effects. 

Sleep Deprivation Clinical Issues, Pharmacology, and Sleep Loss Effects, edited by Ciete A. Kushida... 

Pharmacological Profiles of Anxiolytics and Sedative—Hypnotics. Historically, chemotherapy of anxiety and sleep disorders rehed on a wide variety of natural products such as opiates, alcohol, cannabis, and kawa pyrones. Use of various bromides and chloral derivatives ia these medical iadications enjoyed considerable popularity early ia the twentieth century. Upon the discovery of barbiturates, numerous synthetic compounds rapidly became available for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. As of this writing barbiturates are ia use primarily as iajectable general anesthetics (qv) and as antiepileptics. These agents have been largely replaced as treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders. 

The treatment of non-motor symptoms, such as psychological conditions, sleep disorders, and autonomic dysfunction, should include both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches. Patients should be given suggestions for maintaining ADLs, a positive self-image, family communication, and a safe environment. 

Zoltoski, R. K Cabeza, R. J. 8r Gillin, J. C. (1999). Biochemical pharmacology of sleep. In Sleep Disorders Medicine Basic Sciences, Technical Considerations and Clinical Aspects, ed. S. Chokroverty and R. B. Daroff, 2nd edn, pp. 63-94. Boston, MA ... 

Parmentier, R., Ohtsu, H., Djebbara-Hannas, Z., Valatx, J. L., Watanabe, T. and Lin, J. S. Anatomical, physiological, and pharmacological characteristics of histidine decarboxylase knock-out mice evidence for the role of brain histamine in behavioral and sleep-wake control. /. Neurosci. 22 7695-7711,2002. 

Montero RE, Berger M Antidepressant and antimanic drugs, in Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology Pharmacology of Sleep. Edited by Kales A. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1995... 

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