c.
Intermediate-Acting Barbiturates.
(1) Basic information. Intermediate-acting barbiturates have a duration of
action that lasts from 4 hours to 6 hours. These agents are mainly use for the initial and
short-term treatment of insomnia.
Example of intermediate-acting barbiturate. Amobarbital (Amytal).
(2)
d.
Long-Acting Barbiturates.
(1) Basic information. Long-acting barbiturates have a duration of action
that lasts from 6 hours to 8 hours. These agents are used orally to maintain daylong
sedation in anxiety-tension states. Furthermore, long-acting barbiturates are useful in
the treatment of various convulsive disorders.
(2)
Examples of long-acting barbiturates.
(a)
Phenobarbital.
Mephobarbital (Mebaral).
(b)
7-9. NONBARBITURATE SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS
a.
Short-Acting Agents.
(1) Background information. Short-acting nonbarbiturate sedative-hypnotics
are generally used orally in the initial and short-term treatment of insomnia.
(2)
Examples of short-acting nonbarbiturate sedative-hypnotics.
(a) Chloral hydrate (Noctec). Drug interactions may occur between
chloral hydrate and anticoagulants, furosemide, alcohol, or other drugs that are CNS
depressants.
(b) Triazolam (Halcion). Triazolam is rapidly absorbed through the
oral route and is as effective as the barbiturates in inducing sleep. It is excreted in
breast milk and should not be administered to nursing mothers.
b.
Intermediate-Acting Agents.
(1) Background information. Intermediate-acting nonbarbiturate agents are
administered orally to effectively control moderate to severe daytime anxiety and
tension in patients who have neuroses and mild depressive states.
(2)
Examples of intermediate-acting nonbarbiturates.
MD0804
7-8