About Hypnotics (Non-Benzodiazepine Sleeping Tablets)
Hypnotics (sleeping tablets) are widely prescribed for insomnia, or difficulty in getting to sleep or staying asleep.
Why Are Hynotics Used?
Hypnotics cause sleepiness and are used as a short term treatment of insomnia. Some, such as chlormethiazole ('Heminevrin') can also be used to help agitation and restlessness, as well as to help ease withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. Insomnia is itself not an illness, but it can cause distress and potentially worsen some forms of psychological distress such as mania.
How Do Hypnotics Work?
Hypnotics help to calm you down and can make you sleepy, particularly if you are also suffering from anxiousness. Zopiclone and zolpidem both work on the same receptors as benzodiazepines, but with a short duration of action.
What are the Hypnotics?
Some commonly used hypnotics include:
|
Drugs Available |
Brand name(s) |
Forms available |
|||
|
Tablets |
Capsules |
Liquid |
Injection |
||
| Chloral hydrate |
Yes |
||||
| Chloral betaine | Welldorm |
Yes |
Yes |
||
| Clomethiazole or chlomethiazole | Heminevrin |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
| Diphenhydramine | Nytol, Medinex |
Yes |
Yes |
||
| Promethazine | Phenergan, Sominex, Q-Mazine |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Zaleplon | Sonata |
Yes |
|||
| Zolpidem | Ambien, Stilnoct |
Yes |
|||
| Zopiclone | Zimovane, Zileze |
Yes |
|||
This page was last reviewed by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Monday, 1 June 2009.
The URL of this page is:
http://counsellingresource.com/medications/medication-types/hypnotics.html
