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What is a Sedative?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

A sedative is a drug, medicine, or other substance that may cause people to be calmer. It’s difficult defining the term because these substances don't belong to one class of medications. There are a number of drugs and herbs used for their sedating properties, and sedation may be described as anything from calm to unresponsive to stimuli. Giving a sedative in medicine could mean rendering unconscious, calming anxiety or promoting sleep, so the field is very broad.

Separate levels of sedation might be defined by dosage. A sedative in small amounts could have anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. Some medications are reserved specifically for promoting much greater levels of sedation or certain drugs are used in very high doses to achieve unconsciousness.

Antipsychotic medications may cause sedation and are meant to address extreme agitation problems.
Antipsychotic medications may cause sedation and are meant to address extreme agitation problems.

In the traditional sense, when sedatives reduce anxiety, a common group used to achieve this is drugs called benzodiazepines. Medications in this group include diazepam (Valium®), clonazepam (Klonipin®), alprazolam (Xanax®), and lorazepam (Ativan®). These can help with relaxation, they may be of use in taming minor fears, and some of them may promote sleep, to a degree.

Some sedatives may promote sleep.
Some sedatives may promote sleep.

Barbiturates may be less used now, but have also been used as sedatives. These include phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal®). Some of these are used for sleep or to end seizures: something for which benzodiazepines may also be used. Other sedatives are more properly classed as hypnotics since they were created to induce sleep, and these would include a new class of medicines modeled on benzodiazepines and called Z-drugs. A few examples are Lunesta® and Ambien®.

Benzodiazepine may be used as a sedative.
Benzodiazepine may be used as a sedative.

Some sedatives are much more easily available. The nearest natural foods store has herbs like valerian and kava. Of course, alcohol is regularly and with few limits used as a sedative, and like all other drugs, amount of sedation depends on dosage, and sometimes on person, Alcohol renders some people aggressive or violent, and so can some other sedative types; children are especially known for adverse reactions to them. Another “herb/medicine” used for sedation is marijuana.

Taking alcohol with other sedatives can result in a life-threatening condition.
Taking alcohol with other sedatives can result in a life-threatening condition.

A few medications have sedating properties, which may or may not be a desired effect. Most antipsychotic medications, though meant to address extreme agitation as might occur from delusional thinking, cause sedation or sleepiness. A person who needs to be immediately sedated, might be given an injection of Haldol® (antipsychotic) or Ativan® (benzodiazepine). In the long run, those people needing to take daily antipsychotics could be unhappy with the amount of sedation they feel. Similarly opioids, antihistamines, and some mood stabilizers have sedation as a byproduct, which is not necessarily of benefit.

People who take Xanax or another benzodiazepine should not discontinue use without consulting a doctor.
People who take Xanax or another benzodiazepine should not discontinue use without consulting a doctor.

In all cases, use of a sedative needs careful control. Dosage should be kept within prescribed limits and people should be fully aware that higher doses might have life-threatening effects. This is as true for alcohol as for any benzodiazepine on the market. The potential for addiction needs to be watched too, and if it appears that people need more than a prescribed dose to achieve sedation, they should discuss with physicians how to best handle the situation.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

stoneMason

Benzodiazepines are highly addictive drugs. They are easy to abuse and cause awful withdrawal effects. I don't think that these should be used unless in emergency situation. I don't think it's a good idea to use these sedative to fight depression or anxiety. There are much safer, less addictive alternatives.

Alcohol is also a terrible substance to use as a sedative. Not only does it not work for many people, but it's also addictive, easy to abuse and with serious side effects.

fify

@discographer-- Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a good herb with sedative properties. It actually doesn't put me to sleep but it's very relaxing. So you're not going to pass out after having a cup of lemon balm tea, but it will make you sleepy and relaxed.

I suffer from anxiety and it affects my sleep as well. I have a cup of lemon balm tea to relieve my anxiety. Also, if I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep, lemon balm helps with that too.

discographer

Is there an alternative sedative herb to valerian? I've tried valerian and it caused some side effects. I actually want something that will relax me bed time and will help me fall asleep.

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    • Antipsychotic medications may cause sedation and are meant to address extreme agitation problems.
      By: nebari
      Antipsychotic medications may cause sedation and are meant to address extreme agitation problems.
    • Some sedatives may promote sleep.
      By: Savvapanf Studio ©
      Some sedatives may promote sleep.
    • Benzodiazepine may be used as a sedative.
      By: goshiva
      Benzodiazepine may be used as a sedative.
    • Taking alcohol with other sedatives can result in a life-threatening condition.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Taking alcohol with other sedatives can result in a life-threatening condition.
    • People who take Xanax or another benzodiazepine should not discontinue use without consulting a doctor.
      By: LoloStock
      People who take Xanax or another benzodiazepine should not discontinue use without consulting a doctor.
    • Alcohol can act as a sedative, depending on how much is consumed.
      By: Monkey Business
      Alcohol can act as a sedative, depending on how much is consumed.
    • Sedatives have a high potential for addiction.
      By: Gennadiy Poznyakov
      Sedatives have a high potential for addiction.
    • A sedative may be necessary to tame minor fears and help a person get to sleep.
      By: Johan Larson
      A sedative may be necessary to tame minor fears and help a person get to sleep.