Hypnotic drugs are medications that induce sleep and general rest, intended to fight symptoms of insomnia - a reduced ability to sleep soundly or even at all. Medications labelled as hypnotics as well as as others include:
• Barbiturates • Benzodiazepines • Chloral Hydrate • Chlormethiazole
Miscellaneous hypnotics, ones that do not fit into the above categories, are listed below.
Medications in general should only be used in the treatment of severe insomnia as hypnotic medications in general are habit forming and tend to become useless to the individual after a small number of doses:
"The prolonged use of sleeping pills as a relief from frequent or recurring insomnia can have harmful effects. The body tends to build up a tolerance to the medication, necessitating a more potent dosage in order to fall asleep; habitual use can lead to addiction." - Encyclopædia Britannica
Primary treatments for insomnia include exercise, dietary changes and general regimes.
Some antihistamines, specifically diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine, and zaleplon, also exhibit a hypnotic effect and can offer a less habit forming method of treatment; they are, however, less effective than primarily psychiatric medications for this purpose.
Alcohol is often trumped as a hypnotic drug but is not nearly as effective as the medications listed on this site.
Diphenhydramine
Primarily an antihistamine.
This drug is available over the counter without the need for a prescription. Interestingly, it works as an SSRI medication, inhibiting the reuptake of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain and was the forerunner to the famous antidepressant fluoxetine.
Doxylamine
Primarily an antihistamine.
Interestingly, this medication may in fact be a more capable sedative than the staple drug phenobarbital, a barbiturate. It is the most powerful over the counter sedative available. Doses start from 6.25mg at night to a recommended maximum of 25mg, although some countries permit a maximum daily dose of up to 50mg per day.
Eszopiclone
An atypical hypnotic, eszopiclone is closely related to the drug zopiclone of the same class. Interestingly, this drug can be used in the long term treatment of insomnia as it does not appear to be addictive to any notable degree.
Common side effects include a foul taste, headaches and dizziness; the drug reaches its peak concentration in the blood stream approximately one hour after administration.
Promethazine
Primarily an antihistamine.
Originally used as an antipsychotic, this drug exhibits notable sedative and hypnotic effects.
Zaleplon
This medication is habit forming and as such should only be used in the short term treatment of insomnia. Its effects are similar to that of a typical benzodiazepine.
Zolpidem
Taking a grip as quickly as fifteen minutes after administration, zolpidem is a commonly prescribed treatment for serious cases of insomnia in the short term; six weeks is the absolute maximum term of treatment with this drug and two weeks is the typical limit.
Sadly, this drug is becoming more and more abused at the time of writing. Users fight the impact of the medication and can subsequently experience euphoria, hallucinations, tranquillisation and a softened blow after using stimulant drugs.
Zolpidem can (it is believed) cause tolerance and dependency, far more if abused rather than used properly.
Interestingly, zolpidem has been tenuously connected to the revival of patients in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS).
Zopiclone
Another novel or atypical treatment for severe insomnia, zopiclone is approved for the short term treatment of said disorder; it is possibly addictive, just as benzodiazepines are and as such long term use is frowned upon (long term use is also frowned upon due to tolerance, just as other drugs with the same profile are).