Sedative-hypnotic drugs are used to reduce motor activity and promote relaxation, drowsiness, and sleep. The term is hyphenated because, by adjusting the does, the same group of drugs can be used to produce mild sedation (calming, relaxation) or sleepiness. Thus, the distinction between a sedative and a hypnotic (sleeping pill) is often a matter of dose—lower doses act as sedatives and higher doses promote sleep.

In some people, sedative-hypnotics can produce a paradoxical state of excitement and confusion. This tends to occur more frequently in the very young and older populations. Some of these drugs have the potential to be abused. Very high doses of most sedative-hypnotic drugs will produce general anesthesia and can depress respiration so much that breathing must be maintained artificially or death will occur. The benzodiazepines are an exception to this in that higher doses typically produce sleep and are far less likely...