Hypnotic

An herb that induces sleep.

Any agent that induces sleep. Although sedatives, narcotics, or anxiolytics in sufficient dosage may produce sleep as an incidental effect, the term hypnotic is appropriately reserved for drugs used primarily to produce sleep.

A substance used to induce sleep; a treatment for insomnia; anesthesia.

Relating to hypnosis and hypnotism.

Referring to a state which is like sleep but which is caused artificially.

Referring to a drug which causes sleep.

The techniques used to induce hypnosis.

Drugs that induce sleep. They are generally slowly eliminated from the body and, therefore, make poor anesthetics hypnotic.

An agent that induces deep nerve relaxation and a healing sleep state.

A daig that initiates or maintains a relatively normal state of sleep.

A drug that produces sleep by depressing brain function. Hypnotics include barbiturates, chloral hydrate, methaqualone, and nitrazepam. Hypnotics are used for insomnia and sleep disturbances, especially in mental illnesses and in the elderly. They often cause hangover effects in the morning and the barbiturate hypnotics can lead to dependence.

These are drugs that induce sleep. Before a hypnotic is prescribed, it is vital to establish and, where possible, treat the cause of the insomnia. Hypnotics are most often needed to help an acutely distressed person (for example, following bereavement), or in cases of jet lag, or in shift workers.

Certain medications have the capacity to suppress the functioning of the central nervous system, ultimately leading to a state of lethargy. These drugs are commonly administered as sedatives to alleviate anxiety and agitation or as sleep aids to induce slumber.