Sleeping pill

The nucleophilicity of the nitrogen atom survives in many different functional groups, although its basicity may be lost. Reactions of non-basic, but nucleophilic urea nitrogens provide, for example, an easy entry to sleeping-pills (barbiturates) as well as to stimulants (caffeine). The nitrogen atoms of imidazoles and indole anions are also nucleophilic and the NH protons can be easily substituted. 

Since there was some evidence that these compounds owe their action to interference with the action of histamine, this class has earned the soubriquet "antihistamines." This class of drugs is further characterized by a spectrum of side effects which occur to a greater or lesser degree in various members. These include antispasmodic action, sedative action, analgesia, and antiemetic effects. The side effects of some of these agents are sufficiently pronounced so that the compounds are prescribed for that effect proper. Antihistamines, for example, are used as the sedative-hypnotic component in some over-the-counter sleeping pills. 

Ms. Brown has arthritis in her lower back, and tiie pain keeps her awake at night. She asks if she can have a sleeping pill. In considering her request tiie nurse must take into account that. ... 

Avoid the use of alcohol or other CNS depressants (tranquilizers, sleeping pills) and other nonprescription drag s unless use has been approved by the primary health care provider. 

Benzodiazepines which can be possessed by those above and also others as long as they are a medicinal product (use for epilepsy, anxiety and sleeping pills)... 

NPSG nocturnal polysomnography Dement WC. The proper use of sleeping pills in the primary care set-... 

But Jake wasn t goin to see no shrink, as he put it, so he went back home with some iron pills for his blood, indigestion pills for his stomach, and sleeping pills for his bad nights. 

It is important that the breathing-related sleep disorders be distinguished from other forms of insomnia. The key reason is that many of the most common medications used to treat insomnia worsen the breathing-related sleep disorders. For example, benzodiazepines, the most commonly used class of sleeping pills, can... 

It is easy to imagine the ideal sleeping pill. It would help you to fall asleep quickly and remain asleep through the night. There would be no hangover effect the next... 

Sleeping pills are recommended by doctors to the patients suffering from sleeplessness but it is not advisable to take its doses without consultation with the doctor. Why ... 

Figure 7.2 Photographed above is a box of Rohypnol tranquillizer pills, powerful sedatives normally prescribed as sleeping pills for insomniacs, which have unfortunately gained notoriety as a "date rape" drug. Rohypnol causes sleepiness and memory loss when dissolved in an alcoholic drink therefore, a blue dye has been added to the pills to prevent this from occurring unnoticed. 

Schneider-Helmert D. Why low-dose benzodiazepine-dependent insomniacs can t escape their sleeping pills. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1988 78 706-711. 

If patients are on sleeping pills, tranquilizers or beta-blockers, all of which have sedative effects, herbal formulas that stimulate the Qi and excite the Yang should be avoided. Formulas that strongly tonify the Qi should be used with caution. 

Drugs that alter sleep produce their effects on the brain by altering the actions of neurotransmitters and consequently how neurons communicate with each other. However, different drugs can alter the actions of neurotransmitters in different ways. Stimulants such as amphetamine cause neurons to release excess amounts of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Other drugs, such as the prescription sleeping pills Halcion or Ambien or antihistamines, can interact directly with the neurons receptors to either enhance or block the effects of the neurotransmitters. In later chapters, we will discuss how drugs that help you sleep or stay awake alter the chemistry of the brain. 

Behavioral modifications such as weight loss, avoidance of alcohol and sleeping pills, and the use of specialized pillows that encourage the person to sleep on his or her side (sleep apnea occurs most often when the person is sleeping on his or her back). 

Drugs that help you sleep are also considered chronobiotics. If you normally sleep from 11 00 p.m. to 7 00 A.M. and were to take an OTC sleeping pill like Nytol at 2 00 P.M., it might make you a little drowsy, but it would be hard to fall asleep since your body s internal clock is usually telling you to be awake at that time. However, if you took it at 10 30 p.m., the drowsiness produced by the sleeping pill should help you fall asleep for the night, because this is around the normal time you go to sleep. 

Sleeping pills can be a blessing to someone who is suffering from insomnia, but there are always unforeseeable events. This is why prescription sleep aids should only be taken under the orders of a doctor, and only if the insomnia has proven untreatable with OTC sleep aids or other nonprescription methods. 

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