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A medication capable of producing a mild state of inhibition of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with reduced awareness of external stimuli. Numerous pharmacologic agents can induce different degrees of sedation, depending on the following variables: dosage; route of administration; absorption, metabolism, and excretion rates of the compound; specific receptor sites in the central nervous system that are affected by the agent; environmental setting; and state of the patient. See also Central nervous system.

Ethanol was probably the first sedative compound and was widely used for its analgesic and hypnotic properties, as well as for its ability to decrease inhibitory anxiety with resultant relaxation and occasional euphoria. Subsequent sedative compounds include the barbiturates (for example, phenobarbital and secobarbital) and the benzodiazepines (for example, diazepam and alprazolam). Although these sedative compounds possess properties of tolerance and habituation, they vary in their addictive potential according to specific receptor sites and the particular type of patient. See also Addictive disorders; Barbiturates.

Other classes of chemical agents that are used as sedatives include the antihistamines as well as some antidepressant drugs which possess sedative side effects in addition to their primary pharmacologic properties. Since these classes of compounds are not addicting, they can be safely used as hypnotics. See also Tranquilizer.

Technically, a drug causing sedation. Useful for the treatment of patients with anxiety, and who are restless and agitated such that normal function is impaired. Sedatives are more properly called anxiolytic drugs. Anxiolytics should not be confused with hypnotics, which cause sleep — although sedation may often allow those with troubling anxieties to be able to sleep. Sedative drugs taken at higher doses can often act as hypnotics in those suffering from insomnia. Until twenty years ago the main group of sedative drugs were the barbiturates, now almost entirely replaced by the benzodiazepines. Miscellaneous other modern drugs, such as glutethimide and meprobamate, are also used as sedatives, as are some very old ones, such as chloral hydrate. The latter mixed with an alcoholic drink is known as a Mickey Finn, used, in detective literature at least, to knock out the ‘goodies’.

— Alan W. Cuthbert

adjective

Inducing sleep or sedation: hypnotic, narcotic, opiate, sleepy, slumberous, somnifacient, somniferous, somnific, somnolent, soporific. See awareness/unawareness.

noun

Something that induces sleep or sedation: hypnotic, narcotic, opiate, somnifacient, soporific. See awareness/unawareness.

Definition: soothing
Antonyms: agitating, excitative, upsetting

n

Definition: soothing agent, medicine
Antonyms: antidepressant

A drug, such as alcohol, which can calm an individual without inducing sleep. Sedatives have been used by marksmen to improve their precision. See also anxiolytic.

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1. allaying irritabiliy and excitement.
2. an agent that calms nervousness, irritability and excitement. In general, sedatives depress the central nervous system and tend to cause lassitude and reduced mental activity. They may be classified, according to the organ most affected, as cardiac, gastric, etc.
The degree of relaxation produced varies with the kind of sedative, the dose, the means of administration, and the mental state of the patient. By causing relaxation, a sedative may help an animal go to sleep, but it does not ‘put it to sleep’, a dangerous lay euphemism for euthanasia. Medicines that induce sleep are known as hypnotics. A drug may act as a sedative in small amounts and as a hypnotic in large amounts.
The barbiturates such as phenobarbital are the best-known sedatives. They are also widely used as hypnotics. Other effective sedatives are the bromides, paraldehyde and chloral hydrate.

1. production of sedation. A drug that can produce sedation. 2. any one of the drugs that produces cortical depression of varying degrees. 3. a remedy that allays excitement and slows down the basal metabolic rate without impairing the cerebral cortex.

• PHARMACOLOGY - sedative: drug that depresses central nervous system to induce calm or sleep; depressant; hypnotic

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - beroligende
n. - beroligende middel, nervepille, sedativ

Nederlands (Dutch)
pijnstiller, slaapmiddel

Français (French)
adj. - sédatif, calmant
n. - sédatif, calmant

Deutsch (German)
n. - Beruhigungsmittel
adj. - beruhigend

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - καταπραϋντικό
adj. - ηρεμιστικός, καταπραϋντικός

Italiano (Italian)
sedativo

Português (Portuguese)
n. - sedativo (m)
adj. - calmante

Русский (Russian)
успокаивающее седативное средство, болеутоляющий

Español (Spanish)
adj. - sedativo, sedante, calmante
n. - sedante, calmante

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - lugnande medel, sedativ (med)
adj. - lugnande, sedativ (med)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
使安静的, 使镇静的, 镇静剂, 能使安静的东西

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 使安靜的, 使鎮靜的
n. - 鎮靜劑, 能使安靜的東西

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 가라앉히는, 진정 시키는
n. - 진정제, 진정시키는 것

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 鎮静剤
adj. - 鎮静作用のある

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) عقار مسكن (صفه) مسكن‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מרגיע‬
n. - ‮תרופת-הרגעה‬

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