Sedative-hypnotics
- Reduce arousal and/or induce sleep
- Includes BZDs, Z-drugs, orexin blockers + others
- CNS/respiratory depression varies by class
- Falls and driving impairment are key hazards
- Tolerance/dependence matter for some agents
- Treat insomnia cause—not just sleep duration
Class at a glance
- Reduce arousal and/or induce sleep
Pharmacology
- Includes BZDs, Z-drugs, orexin blockers + others
Clinical role
- CNS/respiratory depression varies by class
- Treat insomnia cause—not just sleep duration
Members / distinctions
- Falls and driving impairment are key hazards
- Tolerance/dependence matter for some agents
Self-check
- What functional safety hazards are important with sedative-hypnotics?
Falls and driving impairment. - Which groups are included in Sedative-hypnotics?
BZDs, Z-drugs, orexin blockers + others.
Drugs in this class (35)
Sedative-hypnotics prescription history
Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Sleep meds (1869–2026).
All drug classes · Open Sedative-hypnotics in the interactive console ↗