Temazepam, commonly known as Restoril, is a sleeping pill that is prescribed to patients. This drug is classified under a type of drugs called benozaphines, which are, “a large group of drugs with sedative and anxiety-reducing properties, which have been found valuable for a large number of uses” (UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances). This class of drugs is used to reduce anxiety and help with insomnia. Since temazepam is classified as a benzodiazepine, I was curious as to what this type of drug does within the brain and its effects throughout the body. A benzodiazepine works as a type of mild sedative within the central nervous system. The molecule acts on the central nervous system by increasing the effects of GABA, which is
…show more content…
In addition, benzodiazepines can be used to treat agitation or anxiety that is caused by other psychiatric conditions such as acute mania, psychotic illness, depression, impulse control disorders, and catatonia or mutism” ("Benzodiazepine." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students). Even though benzodiazepines are most commonly used for their anti anxiety properties, I have chosen to focus on the properties that help reduce insomnia, because as a college student I do not get nearly enough sleep as I should be getting. College students stay up late into the nights working on assignments or partying till daylight. For me I mostly stay up studying so that requires me to remain focused and alert until the late hours of the night and then wake up early in the morning for a full day of class, which also requires focus and …show more content…
One of the major effects being addiction, "Tranquilizers." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students, states that, “The risk of drug dependence increases if sedative-hypnotics are taken regularly for more than a few months.” This made curious because several people rely on sleeping pills for years and therefore have a high risk of being addictive to this pill. I thought what if temazepam structure was more similar to something that is naturally made in the body to promote sleep, such as melatonin. Below is a side by side comparison of temazepam and
In addition, benzodiazepines can be used to treat agitation or anxiety that is caused by other psychiatric conditions such as acute mania, psychotic illness, depression, impulse control disorders, and catatonia or mutism” ("Benzodiazepine." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students). Even though benzodiazepines are most commonly used for their anti anxiety properties, I have chosen to focus on the properties that help reduce insomnia, because as a college student I do not get nearly enough sleep as I should be getting. College students stay up late into the nights working on assignments or partying till daylight. For me I mostly stay up studying so that requires me to remain focused and alert until the late hours of the night and then wake up early in the morning for a full day of class, which also requires focus and …show more content…
One of the major effects being addiction, "Tranquilizers." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students, states that, “The risk of drug dependence increases if sedative-hypnotics are taken regularly for more than a few months.” This made curious because several people rely on sleeping pills for years and therefore have a high risk of being addictive to this pill. I thought what if temazepam structure was more similar to something that is naturally made in the body to promote sleep, such as melatonin. Below is a side by side comparison of temazepam and