Sedative News and Research

RSS

A sedative is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement.

Misuse of nitrous oxide linked to rising deaths and hospitalizations

Despite a recent Food and Drug Administration warning against inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, deaths due to misusing the substance are on the rise in the United States.

2 Apr 2025

Strong synthetic opioids linked to poor postoperative pain experience

The use of powerful synthetic opioids, such as sufentanil and remifentanil, during surgery is linked to a subsequent poor 'pain experience'---a composite of emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of pain- suggests research published in the open access journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

26 Feb 2025

UVA receives $9.3 million NIH grant for ketamine seizure treatment trial

University of Virginia Brain Institute and School of Medicine researchers have received an initial $9.3 million award from the National Institutes of Health for a $30 million clinical trial to determine if the powerful anesthetic ketamine can save patients from prolonged, life-threatening grand mal seizures that won't respond to other treatments.

14 Feb 2025

Prolonged REM sleep latency linked to Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers

Research indicates longer REM latency is associated with higher Alzheimer's biomarkers, pointing to its potential as an early indicator of neurodegeneration.

29 Jan 2025

Research shows sharp growth in sedative and anxiety medication use disorders in youth

The prevalence of diagnosed disorders from recurrent use of sedative, hypnotic and antianxiety medications in adolescents and young adults has increased sharply since 2001, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

23 Jan 2025

Sleep deprivation in early life increases autism risk

Sleep deprivation in adults has long been proven to cause long-term mental and physical health issues, including, but not limited to, weakened immune systems, weight gain, depression, and increased risk of dementia.

24 Oct 2024

Study reveals significant increase in drug overdoses in Colombia among young women

Overdose rates in Colombia involving illegal opioids, hallucinogens, stimulants and sedative psychotropic medication increased greatly during 2018-2021, mainly caused by overdoses in young women, according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

12 Sep 2024

Study reveals strong associations between sleep problems, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation in teens

Rebecca Robbins, PhD, of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is the senior author of a paper published in Psychiatry Research, "Exploring sleep difficulties, alcohol, illicit drugs, and suicidal ideation among adolescents with a history of depression."

2 Aug 2024

Commonly used anesthetic drug can restore the function of ion channel linked to epilepsy

Mutated variants of a particular ion channel cause difficult-to-treat epilepsy. A study published in the journal Nature now shows that a commonly used anesthetic drug, propofol, can restore the function of this ion channel.

31 Jul 2024

Lemon verbena extract boosts sleep quality

Researchers explore the utility of lemon verbena in improving the sleep of individuals with poor sleep.

22 May 2024

Research highlights complexity of xylazine and fentanyl combination in overdose cases

Unregulated use of fentanyl and overdose deaths have increased dramatically in recent years, and this trend was made more alarming when authorities found fentanyl laced with the animal tranquilizer xylazine.

16 May 2024

Sleep and anesthesia hinder brain toxin clearance, study reveals

Researchers found that brain clearance is reduced during both sleep and anesthesia, contradicting the belief that these states enhance toxin removal.

14 May 2024

Analysis reveals composition of counterfeit pills in Rhode Island's illicit drug supply

A new analysis revealed the frequency of potentially lethal substances, such as fentanyl and xylazine, in counterfeit pills that had been circulating in Rhode Island's illicit drug supply.

7 May 2024

Horse sedative use among humans spreads in deadly mixture of ‘tranq’ and fentanyl

Andrew McClave Jr. loved to lift weights. The 6-foot-4-inch bartender resembled a bodybuilder and once posed for a photo flexing his muscles with former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.

26 Feb 2024

Ketamine therapy for mental health a ‘wild West’ for doctors and patients

In late 2022, Sarah Gutilla's treatment-resistant depression had grown so severe, she was actively contemplating suicide.

31 Jan 2024

Records show Publix opioid sales grew even as addiction crisis prompted other chains’ pullback

An executive at Teva Pharmaceuticals flagged Publix Super Markets in October 2015 after detecting what he called in an email "serious red flags" with the grocery chain's orders of powerful opioids.

29 Jan 2024

Diabetes drugs may help curb alcohol dependence

In social media posts on the community network Reddit, users reported reduced cravings for alcohol when taking drugs intended to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

8 Jan 2024

iWHELD training improves quality of life for dementia residents, study finds

Quality of life for people with dementia living in residential and nursing home care substantially improved after staff took part in a digital training programme that was specially adapted to Covid-19 restrictions.

20 Dec 2023

Vegetarian diet linked to lower risk of insomnia, study suggests

Study reveals that following a vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of insomnia, particularly in men, potentially due to higher intakes of healthful plant-based foods and lower consumption of animal products.

12 Dec 2023

Placental microparticles and their potential to predict and prevent neurodevelopmental disorders

For 30 years, Cheryl Rosenfeld has studied how biological information gets transferred from mothers to babies during pregnancy.

5 Dec 2023