Sedative Properties (sedative + property)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sedation and antihistamines: an update.

HUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 7 2008
Review of inter-drug differences using proportional impairment ratios
Abstract Background The use of antihistamines (AHs) has been associated with cognitive and psychomotor impairments, largely caused by the sedative properties of many of these drugs. Due to the ambulant nature of the population using AHs, it is important to evaluate these effects using standardised methodology and psychometric tests. A previous extensive review of the literature collated the results of studies of H1 receptor antagonists to determine the extent to which a particular AH produced impairments on a battery of psychometric tests by calculating a proportional impairment ratio for each AH. Objective In light of a number of major studies published following the previous review, and the development of the second and new-generation AHs, the present review aims to add to the database and update the review, using the same methodology. Results and Conclusion The newer generation AHs appear to be the least impairing, and the first generation, as expected, appear to be the most impairing. There are also differences within the AH drug generations. The review highlights the necessity to consider the sedating potential of AHs, along with other factors such as efficacy, when prescribing AHs to ambulant patients. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Attenuation of the Stimulant Response to Ethanol is Associated with Enhanced Ataxia for a GABAA, but not a GABAB, Receptor Agonist

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2009
Sarah E. Holstein
Background:, The ,-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system is implicated in the neurobiological actions of ethanol, and pharmacological agents that increase the activity of this system have been proposed as potential treatments for alcohol use disorders. As ethanol has its own GABA mimetic properties, it is critical to determine the mechanism by which GABAergic drugs may reduce the response to ethanol (i.e., via an inhibition or an accentuation of the neurobiological effects of ethanol). Methods:, In this study, we examined the ability of 3 different types of GABAergic compounds, the GABA reuptake inhibitor NO-711, the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol, and the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen, to attenuate the locomotor stimulant response to ethanol in FAST mice, which were selectively bred for extreme sensitivity to ethanol-induced locomotor stimulation. To determine whether these compounds produced a specific reduction in stimulation, their effects on ethanol-induced motor incoordination were also examined. Results:, NO-711, muscimol, and baclofen were all found to potently attenuate the locomotor stimulant response to ethanol in FAST mice. However, both NO-711 and muscimol markedly increased ethanol-induced ataxia, whereas baclofen did not accentuate this response. Conclusions:, These results suggest that pharmacological agents that increase extracellular concentrations of GABA and GABAA receptor activity may attenuate the stimulant effects of ethanol by accentuating its intoxicating and sedative properties. However, selective activation of the GABAB receptor appears to produce a specific attenuation of ethanol-induced stimulation, suggesting that GABAB receptor agonists may hold greater promise as potential pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders. [source]


Anxiolytic properties of Piper methysticum extract samples and fractions in the chick social,separation,stress procedure

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003
Matt W. Feltenstein
Abstract Piper methysticum extract (Kava kava) possesses anxiolytic properties. However, it is unknown whether these effects are best predicted by total kavalactone content or by one or more of its primary kavalactone constituents. Using the chick social separation-stress procedure as an anxiolytic bioassay, P. methysticum samples containing 12.8,100.0% total kavalactones (Exp. 1) and fractions containing 1,6 kavalactones of varying concentrations (0.1,67.5%; Exps. 2,3) were screened for activity and compared against a 5.0 mg/kg dose of chlordiazepoxide (CDP; Exp. 3). Eight-day-old chicks received IP injections of either vehicle or test compounds 30 min before being placed in the presence of two conspeci,cs or in isolation for a 3 min observation period. Dependent measures were ventral recumbency latency (sedation), distress vocalizations, and a measure of stress-induced analgesia (in Exps. 1 and 2 only). P. methysticum extract samples attenuated distress vocalizations in a concentration-dependent manner. The P. methysticum fraction that contained the highest concentration of dihydrokavain attenuated distress vocalizations in a manner equivalent to that of CDP. The extract samples and fractions that possessed anxiolytic properties did not possess the sedative properties found in CDP. Collectively, these ,ndings suggest that dihydrokavain may be necessary and suf,cient in mediating the anxiolytic properties of P. methysticum extract. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of ziprasidone under non-fasting conditions in healthy male volunteers

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue S1 2000
J. J. Miceli
Aims, To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of single and multiple oral doses of ziprasidone in healthy male volunteers, and to determine the influence of ziprasidone on serum prolactin levels. Methods, Single and multiple doses of ziprasidone were given orally (as two divided daily doses), at fixed dosages of 10 and 40 mg day,,1, and using titrated regimens of 40,80 and 40,120 mg day,,1, for 14 days. All dosages were taken immediately after food. The study adopted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Prolactin response, sedative properties, tolerability, and extrapyramidal symptoms were also investigated. Results, Steady-state exposure to ziprasidone was attained after 1 day of dosing. Mean Cmax and AUC(0,12 h) increased with increasing dose, with apparent dose-proportionality between the 20 and 60 mg dose levels. Trough-to-peak ratios at steady state ranged from 2 to 5. Accumulation ratios for the fixed-dose regimens were 1.49 and 1.48 at the 5 and 20 mg dose levels, respectively. Ziprasidone was associated with transient prolactin elevation but levels of prolactin returned to baseline within the dosing interval at steady state. There was a marginal, transient increase in serum prolactin levels which was not dose-related at the 80 and 120 mg day,,1 doses, and which was noted to attenuate with chronic dosing. Ziprasidone was generally well tolerated. The most frequent side-effect was mild or moderate headache. A minority of patients suffered first-dose postural hypotension. Ziprasidone was also associated with a mild sedative effect that became less pronounced as treatment continued. There were no drug-related changes in electrocardiogram or clinical laboratory variables that were of clinical importance. Conclusions, Ziprasidone is characterized by a predictable pharmacokinetic profile resulting in symptoms that reflect its pharmacological action. [source]