What it means
A group of drugs that slow down the brain and nervous system. At a low dose they calm and relax; at a higher dose they cause sleep. The group includes benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam and midazolam), the "Z-drugs" for sleep (such as zolpidem), and barbiturates. Together with alcohol or opioid analgesicOH-pee-oyd an-ul-JEE-zikA strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.Full entry , they can slow breathing dangerously.
For the nurse
Assess the level of alertness and breathing rate before and after a dose, and put fall precautions in place. Teach clients not to drink alcohol, drive or use other sedating drugs while taking them, and not to stop suddenly after long use. The Beers Criteria advise avoiding benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in older adults, because of confusion, falls and fractures. Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines.
In a chart
"Client drowsy but easily roused 30 minutes after zolpidem; bed alarm on, call light in reach."
At a glance
| Spanish | sedante hipnótico |
|---|---|
| Also written | sedative/hypnotics, hypnotic, sedative, sedatives, hypnotics, sedative-hypnotics |
Related terms
opioid analgesic
A strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.
anesthetic
A drug that causes loss of feeling, with or without loss of consciousness.