Anxiolytics and Hypnotics | Benzodiazepines | Anti-Depressants MOA | CNS Pharmacology

The physical symptoms of severe anxiety are similar to those of fear and involve sympathetic activation. The symptoms may include tachycardia, sweating, trembling, and palpitations. Severe, chronic, debilitating anxiety may be treated with antianxiety drugs or some form of psychotherapy. Let us talk about these antianxiety drugs, in this pharmacology lecture. We will also discuss the anxiolytics' adverse effects and contraindications. Many antianxiety drugs also cause some sedation, they may be used clinically as both anxiolytic and hypnotic (sleep-inducing) agents. The difference between both is the dosage, not the drug. The antianxiety drugs include: 🟠 Benzodiazepines (BDZ) 🟠 Barbiturates 🟠 Z-Drugs 🟠 BDZ Antagonists 🟠 Anti- Depressants (SSRI’s) 🟠 Serotonergic (5HT) Antagonists ▬ 📌 Benzodiazepines (BDZ) The popularity of benzodiazepines (BDZ) arose from their weak sedative effects at anxiolytic doses and their low toxicity. They act by enhancing the GABA-mediated inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS). 🔸Temazepam 🔸Lormatazepam 🔸Diazepam 🔸Lorazepam 🔸Midazolam 🔸Flunitrazepam ▬ 📌 Barbiturates Barbiturates are classified as CNS agents, anticonvulsants, and sedative–hypnotic drugs. The barbiturates act at another binding site and similarly enhance the action of GABA, by prolonging the duration of channel opening. 🔵 Thiopental 🔵 Phenobarbital ▬ 📌 Other Anxiolytic Drug In this section, we will discuss the “Z” Drugs, BDZ antagonists, Antidepressants (SSRIs), and serotonergic antagonists that act as anxiolytics and hypnotics. 👉 Z-Drugs The following drugs are termed “Z drugs”. They have a selective action on the alpha 1 subunit of GABA receptors. ✦ Zopiclone ✦ Zolpidem ✦ Zaleplon 👉 BDZ antagonists Flumazenil is a competitive BDZ antagonist that has a short duration of action and is given intravenously. Watch the full lecture to learn the mechanism of action of flumazenil and its therapeutic effect. 👉 Anti-Depressants Antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are used in the treatment of most types of chronic anxiety disorders. Watch the video to learn how anti-depressants differ from BDZ. Serotonergic (5HT) antagonists Experiments have suggested that 5-HT antagonists might be useful anxiolytic drugs, as they act on serotonergic cell bodies, present in the brain. 🟤 Buspirone 🟤 Chloral hydrate 🟤 Clomethiazole So, this brings us to the end of this lecture. But wait! Learning is not over yet! ▬ 🎬 5500+ sqadia.com Medical Videos ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 👩🏻‍⚕️ Accessible Medical Student Education 24/7/365 💡 Simplifying Medical Learning 💪 Study Hard, Dream Big, Achieve More