The 8 most commonly used types of hypnotic drugs

These drugs are widely used to intervene in cases of insomnia, but they have their risks.

From the clinical psychology point of view, insomnia problems, whether they are of conciliation or maintenance of sleep, are preferably treated by means of behavioral techniques such as stimulus control, sleep hygiene and Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation.

However, in cases of insomnia that are severe or resistant to psychological therapy, it may be necessary to combine it with the use of medication. In this article we will discuss the most used and known types of hypnotic drugs..

The most commonly used hypnotic drugs

Below we will describe the most common groups of hypnotic drugs in the present and in the second half of the 20th century. Although today benzodiazepine analogs are the pharmacological treatment of choice for insomnia.In some places, classical hypnotics such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates are still used.

It is important to note that not all of these drugs are used to treat insomnia, but some of them are very potent and specific drugs for the management of other disorders. We include these cases in the list because of the significance of the hypnotic effects associated with their use or their relevance in the history of sleeping pills.

1. Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines include some of the most commonly used drugs to treat insomnia symptoms, especially the short-lived variants. However, long-term use of these drugs carries the following risks risk of dependence and withdrawal syndrome, as they act in a similar way to alcohol and, like alcohol, end up altering the way the latter does.and, like alcohol, ultimately disturbs sleep.

The use of benzodiazepines as hypnotics has been in decline since the 1990s, when benzodiazepine analogues were developed, which we will refer to in the following section. Currently, drugs in this class are used primarily to treat symptoms of anxiety and alcohol withdrawal for short periods of time.

2. Benzodiazepine analogues (Z-drugs)

Benzodiazepine analogues are drugs with properties very similar to those of benzodiazepines, although they cannot be classified in that group because of their different chemical structure. In recent years, they have become the most widely used hypnotics in many parts of the world because they are in many parts of the world because they have been attributed a high level of safety.

Three drugs stand out in this category: zolpidem, zaleplon and eszopiclone. Another of the best known Z-drugs, zopiclone, has been withdrawn in some countries because of its side effects, which are not very different from those of benzodiazepines.

3. Orexin receptor antagonists

Several recent drugs have antagonistic effects on orexin receptors. have antagonistic effects on the receptors of the neuropeptide called orexin or hypocretin, which is associated with alertness and alertness.which is associated with alertness and wakefulness, as well as appetite. The degree of effectiveness of these drugs remains to be assessed, although Suvorexant has been approved for use and research on Lemborexant is promising.

4. Barbiturates

Barbiturates were the most commonly used drugs to treat insomnia until the advent of benzodiazepines, which cause fewer side effects. Today, different types of barbiturates are used as surgical anesthetics and as anticonvulsants in cases of epilepsy, but their application as hypnotics has become very unusual..

Continued use of these drugs carries a high risk of physical and psychological dependence, which in turn explains the severe withdrawal syndrome associated with barbiturates. Another factor contributing to the loss of popularity of these drugs was the worrying number of suicides due to overdose.

5. Quinazolinones

Quinazolinones are chemical compounds with diverse medical properties: they may have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal and Anticonvulsant effects. In addition, the anticancer properties of some quinazolinones, such as Idelalisib, have been investigated, although these studies have been abandoned due to side effects.

In the 1960's and 1970's it was very popular Methaqualone, better known by its trade name "Quaalude".. This hypnotic drug was widely used as a recreational drug during this era, especially in nightclubs.

6. Anesthetics

Drugs used as anesthetics are often considered members of the same category as hypnotics and sedatives. Within this group are propofol, etomidate, and ketamine. and ketamine; the first two are frequently administered to humans, while ketamine is more commonly used in veterinary medicine.

7. Cannabinoids

Chemical compounds derived from cannabis, such as tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, are sometimes used as psychotropic drugs because of their sedative, hypnotic and analgesic properties. In recent years, marijuana-based drugs have been developed that carry a risk of dependence. which carry a relatively low risk of dependence.

8. Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone involved in the regulation of biological rhythms, especially in the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin is a hormone involved in the regulation of biological rhythms, especially in the sleep-wake cycle. are used as an alternative treatment for insomnia.However, despite the ease of access to these products, they must be used with a doctor's prescription.