Which of the following indicate the use of barbiturates in treating insomnia. Select all that apply.
A. Barbiturates deprive people of NREM sleep.
B. Barbiturates deprive people of REM sleep.
C. When the barbiturates are discontinued, the NREM sleep increases.
D. When the barbiturates are discontinued, the REM sleep increases.
E. Nightmares are often an adverse effect when discontinuing barbiturates.
Correct Answers: B, D, and E
Barbiturates are a group of sedative-hypnotic medications used for the treatment of seizure disorder, neonatal withdrawal, insomnia, preoperative anxiety, and induction of coma for increased intracranial pressure. They are also useful for inducing anesthesia.
Option A: The pharmacological actions of barbiturates include depressing nerve activity in the cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscles. These drugs also affect the CNS in several different ways and can produce effects ranging from mild sedation to a coma depending upon the dosage.
Option B: Barbiturates deprive people of REM sleep. Barbiturates can be addictive and have strong withdrawal symptoms and rebound (exaggerated) effects on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when they are abruptly stopped and can interfere with sleep.
Option C: Low doses of barbiturates can lower anxiety levels and relieve tension, while higher doses can decrease the heart rate and blood pressure.
Option D: When the barbiturate is stopped and REM sleep once again occurs, a rebound phenomenon occurs. It is advisable, therefore, to stop barbiturates by slowly lowering their dose over a period of more than five or six days.
Option E: During this phenomenon, the person’s dream time constitutes a larger percentage of the total sleep pattern, and the dreams are often nightmares. Barbiturates are a class of drugs derived from barbituric acid that act as depressants to the central nervous system. These drugs are used as sedatives or anesthetics and have the potential to become addictive.
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