What does anterograde amnesia mean and which drugs can cause this effect?

Inability to remember evets occurring during drugs duration of action. Drugs that cause this eg is midazolam diazepam lorazepam ect.

Name the effects of the sedative-hypnotic drugs on the normal sleep pattern and explain their significance to the patient.

Long term use of BD can decrease the time taken to fall asleep and increase a patient’s duration of sleep who do not get more than 6hrs of sleep per night

Low doses of BD have a small effect on REM sleep but Highers doses decrease REM sleep.

BD increase the duration of phase 2 NREM but decrease the duration of phase 4 NREM sleep.

Which of the sedative-hypnotic drugs are used as a supplementary therapy in anaesthesia?  Can you explain why?

Barbiturates, Midazolam diazepam and lorazepam is used as it induces anterograde amnesia so patient will remember nothing while using the medication.

Which of the sedative-hypnotic drugs are used as anticonvulsants?

Diazepam lorazepam phenobarbitone, clonazepam and clobazam

What is the mechanism of the muscle-relaxing effects of some of the carbamates and the BDs?

They induce skeletal muscle relaxation by inhibiting polysynaptic reflexes.

Discuss the effects of the sedative-hypnotic drugs on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems

Can cause respiratory depression in high doses due to depression of medullary respiratory centre.