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

Anterograde amnesia is the decreased ability of a patient to remember new information or occurring events during the drugs duration of action. The drugs that cause this effect are triazolam, lorazepam, midazolam.

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

• Decrease in the time takes to fall asleep.
• Decrease in the duration of REM sleep.
• Increases the duration of phase NREM.
• Decreases the duration of phase 4 NREM.
• increase the sleep duration in individuals who have less than 6 hours of sleep per night

These effects are significant in helping patients who suffer from insomnia or have problems sleeping as well as assist in improving the quality of sleep.

Which of the sedative-hypnotic drugs are used as supplementary therapy for anesthesia? Can you explain why?

• Lorazepam
• Midazolam
• Thiopental
• Diazepam

These drugs have an increased lipophilicity and can thus cross brain tissue and distribute rapidly after intravenous administration. The benzodiazepines have long half-lives, form active metabolites and slow onset of action. This causes the prolonging of effects working ideal for anesthesia.

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

• Nitrozepam
• Clonazepam
• Clobazam
• Lorazepam
• Phenobarbitone
• Diazepam

What is the mechanism of the muscle-relaxing effects of some of the carbamates and BD’s?

These drugs have an inhibitory effect on polysynaptic reflexes and the internuncial transmission and therefore depressing the skeletal neuromuscular junction, at high doses. These selective action causes muscle relaxation.

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

On the respiratory system there is a relative depression seen in patients with pulmonary disease. Effects on respiration are dose-related and overdose may be fatal  as complete depression on the medullary respiratory center will occur .

On the cardiovascular system there is a relative depression that will occur in patients that suffer from diseases which cause cardiovascular impairment, the depression caused because of  medullary vasomotor center. Increased doses also result in the myocardial contractility and vascular tone may both be depressed by central and peripheral effects leading to circulatory collapse which is fatal.