Sedatives are drugs designed to provide a mild sedative effect on the functioning of the nervous system. Depending on this or that origin, they are divided into two main groups: synthetic and plant. In addition, there are sedatives made on the basis of natural raw materials and artificial components.
The strength with which they act on the central nervous system directly depends on the dosage and the duration of their intake.
Sedatives, which belong to the class of antipsychotics, unlike, for example, tranquilizers, are not used to eliminate convulsive syndrome and are not able to cause muscle relaxation. In addition, these drugs are not addictive and addictive. By the way, this is what allowed the widespread use of sedatives to treat a wide variety of patient groups.
If we consider the group of herbal medicines, then it includes tincture of motherwort, valerian, hawthorn, lemon balm and St. John's wort, as well as corvalol, valoserdine and other combined means.
All of them are characterized by a pronounced antiphobic and calming effect, cause a decrease in emotional stress and contribute to calm. Herbal sedatives are often used to relieve manifestations of nervous agitation, treatment and prevention of insomnia and neurosis, diseases of the cardiovascular system. Quite often they are used in combination with local anesthesia during various medical procedures. Soothing drugs dull the feeling of fear, pain, and other negative emotions. In fact, this is a kind of alternative to light anesthesia, as the patient is conscious, but at the same time completely relaxed and does not experience nervous tension.
Among synthetic sedative drugs, the most widely used are bromine preparations, or so-called bromides.
These drugs have a mild sedative effect, are rapidly absorbed and slowly excreted from the body. Bromides are prescribed, as a rule, with increased irritability, neurasthenia and other forms of neurosis. With prolonged use, synthetic sedatives accumulate in the body and can cause side effects such as drowsiness, lethargy, skin rashes, and memory impairment. In addition, bromides can have a general irritant effect on human mucous membranes, causing conjunctivitis and coughing. To get rid of these symptoms and speed up the elimination of the drug, a heavy drink and a large amount of sodium chloride are prescribed.
To enhance the positive effect, it is very good to use both herbal and synthetic sedatives in combination with drugs such as nootropic substances. The latter increase the body's resistance to various aggressive influences, improve memory, positively affect mental activity in general.