Sedation: A Non-Specific Phenomenon

Sedative molecules are defined as substances that decrease, often in correspondence to dose increase, psychomotor performances in animals as well as in humans. These substances are psychotropic drugs that belong to the hypnotic, neuroleptic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and antihistaminic family. In the clinical situation, sedation is an undesirable secondary effect after the utilization of these drugs. It is for this reason that sedative drugs are used in pre-anaesthesia or agitation, or even aggressive phenomena. The purpose of this article is therefore to highlight the different pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of drugs which can be used to induce sedation.