Chapter 12

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Depressants

Drugs that have an inhibitory effect on the CNS, reducing nervousness, excitability, and irritability.

Sedatives

Depressant drugs that reduce nervousness and excitability without inducing sleep.

Hypnotics

Depressant drugs that induce sleep.

Benzodiazepines

A class of sedative-hypnotic drugs that work on GABA receptors in the CNS to reduce anxiety, agitation, and induce sleep.

Barbiturates

Another class of sedative-hypnotic drugs that depress the CNS activity and have similar effects to benzodiazepines.

Miscellaneous drugs

A category of depressant drugs that do not fall under the classification of benzodiazepines or barbiturates.

Xanax, Librium, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin

Examples of benzodiazepine drugs commonly used as sedatives or hypnotics.

Mechanism of action

The way in which a drug produces its effects in the body.

GABA receptors

Receptors in the CNS that are targeted by benzodiazepines to produce their calming and sedative effects.

Indications

The reasons or conditions for which a medication is prescribed or used.

Contraindications

Factors or conditions that make a particular treatment or medication inappropriate or potentially harmful.

Withdrawal symptoms

Symptoms that occur when a person stops taking a drug to which they have become physically dependent, such as benzodiazepines.

Toxicity and overdose

The harmful effects that can occur when a person takes too much of a drug.

Flumazenil

An antidote used to treat benzodiazepine overdose.

Interactions

The ways in which one drug can affect the action or effectiveness of another drug.

Side effects

Unintended or undesirable effects of a drug that occur in addition to its intended effects.

Benzodiazepines

A class of drugs commonly used for sleep and anxiety, characterized by their ending in "-pam" or "-lam".

Ambien

A non-benzodiazepine sleep medication (zolpidem) with a lower incidence of daytime sleepiness.

Barbiturates

A class of drugs used for insomnia and sedation, with a high potential for habit-forming and a low therapeutic index.

Phenobarbital

A barbiturate medication commonly used for anesthesia induction and control of seizures.

Contraindications

Factors or conditions that make a certain treatment or medication unsuitable or potentially harmful.

Side effects

Unintended or undesirable effects of a medication or treatment.

Respiratory depression

A potentially dangerous condition characterized by slowed or shallow breathing.

Overdose

Taking an excessive amount of a drug, leading to potentially harmful or life-threatening effects.

Symptomatic treatment

Treating the symptoms of a condition or overdose rather than addressing the underlying cause.

Activated charcoal

A substance used as an antidote to absorb toxins in cases of overdose.

Tonic-clonic seizures

A type of seizure characterized by muscle stiffness (tonic phase) followed by rhythmic jerking (clonic phase).

Febrile convulsions

Seizures that occur in young children due to high fever.

Beta barbitol

A long-acting barbiturate used for the prevention of tonic-clonic seizures and febrile convulsions.

Antihistamines

Medications used to treat allergies and often found in over-the-counter sleep aids.

Off-label use

The use of a medication for a purpose other than its approved indication.

Eudasol

A medication that depresses the central nervous system and is used to relieve skeletal muscle spasms.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

An antihistamine medication that depresses the central nervous system and can be used to relieve skeletal muscle spasms.

Tylenol PM

A combination of Tylenol (acetaminophen) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) used to relieve pain and promote sleep.

Muscle relaxants

Medications that relieve pain associated with skeletal muscle spasms by acting on the central nervous system.

Centrally acting muscle relaxants

Muscle relaxants that primarily work in the central nervous system to relieve muscle spasms.

Baclofen

A centrally acting muscle relaxant available in injectable and implantable forms.

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)

A commonly prescribed centrally acting muscle relaxant.

Zanaplex

Another commonly prescribed centrally acting muscle relaxant.

Soma

A muscle relaxant that depresses the central nervous system and is known for its sedative effects.

Indications

Reasons for using muscle relaxants, including relief of painful musculoskeletal conditions and muscle spasms.

Nonpharmacological interventions

Additional treatments or therapies, such as physical therapy and stretching exercises, that should be used alongside medication for treating injuries or musculoskeletal conditions.

Nursing implications

Considerations and actions that nurses should take when administering muscle relaxants, including obtaining a patient's medication history, monitoring for therapeutic effects, and educating patients about potential side effects and dependence.

Rebound insomnia

A condition where insomnia worsens after discontinuing a medication that was previously used to treat it.

Therapeutic effects

Desired outcomes or improvements in symptoms that indicate a medication is working effectively.