Sleeping pills promote falling asleep and provide the necessary duration of sleep. They have a depressing effect on interneuronal (synaptic) transmission in various formations of the central nervous system (CNS) (for example, in the cerebral cortex, afferent pathways, limbic system). Each group of drugs is characterized by a specific localization of action.
UK Sleeping Pills deform the formula of sleep, suppressing the phase of REM sleep. The sleep provoked by them is different from the natural one. A significant drawback of sleeping pills is the feeling of fatigue and weakness provoked by them, noted after waking up, which negatively affects the general condition and the patient’s ability to work.
Existing approaches to the treatment of insomnia can be divided into drug and non-drug approaches.
Among non-drug methods, there are: 1) observance of sleep hygiene; 2) psychotherapy; 3) phototherapy; 4) encephalophony (“music of the brain”), etc.
Medicinal methods for the treatment of insomnia involve the use of drugs with a hypnogenic effect, among which anxiolytics (tranquilizers) of the benzodiazepine series, related to psychotropic substances, are currently used in clinical practice.
Depending on the mechanism of action and chemical structure, the following groups of hypnotics are distinguished:
Hypnotics – benzodiazepine receptor agonists:
- Benzodiazepine derivatives (nitrazepam, lorazepam, nozepam, temazepam, diazepam, phenazepam, flurazepam);
- Preparations of different chemical structure (“non-benzodiazepine” compounds) (zolpidem, zopiclone);
UK Sleeping Pills with a narcotic type of action:
- Heterocyclic compounds (derivatives of barbituric acid (barbiturates), etaminal sodium);
- Aliphatic compounds (chloral hydrate).
Other drugs used to treat insomnia
- melatonin preparations;
- Means of plant origin.
Depending on the time of onset of the hypnotic effect, there are:
- Rapid -acting drugs – the onset of sleep 15-30 minutes after ingestion (amobarbital, bromisoval, glutethimide, doxylamine, zopiclone, lorazepam, methaqualone, midazolam, nitrazepam, flunitrazepam, flurazepam);
- Relatively slow -acting drugs – the onset of sleep in 30-60 minutes (phenobarbital).
According to the duration of the hypnotic effect, UK Sleeping Pills are distinguished that cause short and long sleep. The shortest sleep (4-5 hours) is observed when taking midazolam and triazolam. These drugs do not have a post-somnic effect. Longer sleep (5-6 hours) is observed with the use of bromisoval and lorazepam, as well as glutethimide and zopiclone. Sleep of average duration (6-8 hours) is typical for amobarbital, lorazepam, methaqualone, nitrazepam, phenobarbital and flurazepam. The longest sleep (7-9 hours) occurs after taking flunitrazepam.
Often, sedatives are used to correct sleep disorders, such as preparations of motherwort herb, rhizomes with roots of valerian officinalis, peppermint leaves and others, various non-drug methods (compliance with the regimen and creating conditions for sleep), as well as some tranquilizers with a sedative effect. However, with true insomnia (insomnia), the only effective remedy is the use of Sleeping Pills UK.
Mechanism of action
The drugs of the barbiturate group have their effect mainly at the level of stem structures, benzodiazepine derivatives – the limbic system and its connections with other structures that provide a cyclic change of sleep and wakefulness. Anxiolytics of the benzodiazepine series have anxiolytic, hypnotic, sedative, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and amnestic activity. Anxiolytic and hypnotic effects are associated mainly with their inhibitory effect on the limbic system (hippocampus) and, to a lesser extent, on the activating reticular formation of the brain stem and cerebral cortex. The muscle-relaxing effect is due to the suppression of polysynaptic spinal reflexes. The mechanism of anticonvulsant (antiepileptic) action is the result of the activation of inhibitory brain processes, which limits the spread of pathological impulses.