Pharmacology: Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs & Alcohol

• How many stages of NREM sleep are there?

  4
• Which of the following are characteristics of stage 1 NREM sleep?


  individuals are somewhat aware of their surroundings but relaxed, normally lasts a few minutes
• Which of the following occurs during stage 2 NREM sleep?

  individuals are unaware of their surroundings and easily awakened, occupies 50% of total sleep time
• What percentage of sleep does stage 3 and 4 of NREM occupy?

  20-25%
• Which of the following occur during REM sleep?

  rapid eye movement, dreaming
• What are the components of a normal sleep cycle?

  REM and NREM stages 1 through 4
• GABA is an inhibitory ____.

  neurotransmitter
• Stage 1 NREM is predominated by ____ waves.

  alpha
• Stage 2 NREM sleep occupies approximately what percentage of the total sleep time?

  50%
• What happens to the channel when GABA binds to the GABAA receptor?

  It opens.
• Which stages of sleep are important for physical rest and restoration.

  Stage 3 and 4 of NREM
• In which stage of sleep does dreaming usually occur?

  REM
• What can occur with high doses of barbiturates?

  General anesthesia
• Which of the following are true regarding GABA?

  reduces neuronal excitability, increasing it reduce brain activity and promote sleep
• In which of the following ways do barbiturates effect the sleep cycle?

  suppresses REM, increases stage 2 NREM
• The influx of chloride ions causes ____ , thus reducing the generation of action potentials and inhibits neuronal activity.

  hyperpolarization
• Which stages of sleep are considered "slow wave" sleep?

  Stages 3 and 4 of NREM
• Which of the following is true regarding the absorption and distribution of barbiturates?

  widely distributed in all tissues & well absorbed when given orally
• What are the indications for barbiturates?

  sedation, hypnosis, anti-convulsant & gen anesthesia
• Phenobarbital can be used as a ____ drug in the tax of epilepsy.

  anticonvulsant
• What is thought to be the mechanism of action for barbiturates at low doses?

  Binds to GABA receptors and increases the influx of chloride
• What factors can cause serious injury when operating a motor vehicle or machinery when taking barbiturates?

  impaired judgment, depressed reflexes
• Barbiturates usually increase stage 2 sleep when used as?

  hypnotic
• Which of the following are expected results to prolonged and excessive use of barbiturates?

  tolerance & physical dependence
• Barbiturates are well absorbed when given by which route?

  orally
• Large doses of barbiturates cause inhibition of what?

  medulla oblongata
• Because of the prolonged duration of action of phenobarbital there may be a ____ effect, which is described as feeling drugged the next morning.

  hangover
• Which of the following are typical side effects of barbiturates?

  drowsiness, lethargy, lack of coordination
• Porphyria is a contraindication with barbiturates, because porphyrin accumulates in the?

  liver
• When does physical dependency to barbiturates usually develop?

  When large therapeutic doses are taken on a regular basis for more than 1 to 2 months
• Barbiturates potentiate the actions of other CNS depressant drugs, leading to greater CNS depression and ______.

  respiratory depression
• Which of the following can occur with a large dose of barbiturates?

  inhibition of medulla oblongata, dilation of blood vessels leading to hypotension and shock
• In addition to antianxiety effects, benzodiazepines have which of the following effects?

  hypnotic, muscle relaxant & sedative
• Benzodiazepine drugs increase the inhibitory effect of which of the following?

  Gamma-aminobutyric acid
• Which of the following are contraindications of barbiturates?

  pregnancy & acute intermittent porphyria
• Which of the following are true regarding the metabolism of benzodiazepines?

  some of the benzodiazepines have active metabolites; with active metabolites, they have a prolonged duration of action; eliminated mainly thru the urinary tract
• Which two drugs can be a deadly combination and should never be taken together?

  sedative-hypnotics & alcohol
• How do benzodiazepine drugs affect the sleep cycle?

  NREM 2 is increased and NREM 4 is decreased
• What is another term commonly used for benzodiazepines?

  Anti-anxiety drugs
• Benzodiazepines are effective for a few weeks longer than barbiturates because they produce __.

  less tolerance