Medications and Adjunct Therapies to Promote Sleep

These flashcards cover key terminology related to sleep, sleep disorders, and therapeutic approaches for promoting sleep.

Sleep Deprivation

A condition resulting from insufficient sleep that can impair cognitive functions, concentration, and memory processing.

Circadian Rhythms

The natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, responding to light and dark.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Sedation

The process of inducing a loss of awareness and reaction to environmental stimuli.

Hypnosis

An extreme form of sedation causing CNS depression that leads to sleep, impairing the ability to sense or react to stimuli.

Barbiturates

Older CNS depressant drugs used as anxiolytics and hypnotics often replaced by benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines

Drugs that act as anxiolytics and short-term hypnotics to treat insomnia, reducing wakefulness but potentially decreasing sleep quality.

Antihistamines

Medications that can have sedative effects and may aid in sleep, such as Diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Orexin Receptor Antagonist

A class of drugs that block orexin, a chemical that promotes wakefulness, to help facilitate sleep.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates the wake-sleep cycle, often used in supplement form to treat insomnia.

Relaxation Techniques

Methods such as yoga and guided imagery used to promote relaxation and enhance sleep.

Light Therapy

A treatment that uses exposure to light to help reset circadian rhythms and improve sleep patterns.

Good Sleep Hygiene

Practices that promote consistent and quality sleep, including a structured bedtime and a comfortable sleep environment.