The sleep-wake cycle and sleeping pills.

Full Abstract

Sleeping pills are drugs which are used world-wide to combat sleep disturbances, and to prevent symptoms due to maladjustment to shiftwork or jet-lag. Today, benzodiazepines and the so-called "non-benzodiazepines", such as zolpidem, which both act on benzodiazepine receptors, are drugs of first choice and they are substitutes for barbiturates. Their use as sleeping pills in insomniacs is established after appropriate medical diagnosis. Symptoms from shiftwork or jet-lag are due to an internal desynchronisation of biological rhythms, and there is ample evidence that benzodiazepines are not effective in preventing these symptoms. Cabin crews in particular should never take sleeping pills, in order not to impair cognitive functions or to reduce the reactivity needed to fly an aircraft safely. The biological clock(s) cannot be reset instantaneously by any drug.

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Author information

Author/s: Lemmer, Björn (B);

Affiliation: Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Maybachstr, 14, 68169 Mannheim, Germany. bjoern.lemmer(-atsign-)pharmtox.uni-heidelberg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Physiology & behavior (Physiol Behav), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Feb; vol 90 (issue 2-3) : pp 285-93

Dates: Created 2007/02/05; Completed 2007/04/10; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17049955, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aerospace Medicine
Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use
Biological Clocks - drug effects; physiology
Circadian Rhythm - drug effects; physiology
Humans

Hypnotics and Sedatives - therapeutic use
Jet Lag Syndrome - drug therapy
Sleep - drug effects; physiology
Sleep Disorders - drug therapy; prevention & control
Wakefulness - drug effects; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Hypnotics and Sedatives (0) ; Benzodiazepines (12794-10-4)

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