Editing Hypnotic (section)

===Barbiturates===
{{Main|Barbiturate}}

[[Barbiturate]]s are drugs that act as [[central nervous system]] [[depressant]]s, and can therefore produce a broad spectrum of effects, from mild [[sedation]] to total [[anesthesia]]. They are also effective as [[anxiolytic]]s, hypnotics, and [[anticonvulsant]] effects; however, these effects are somewhat weak, preventing barbiturates from being used in [[surgery]] in the absence of other analgesics. They have dependence liability, both [[physical dependence|physical]] and [[psychological dependence|psychological]]. Barbiturates have now largely been replaced by [[benzodiazepine]]s in routine medical practice&nbsp;– such as in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia&nbsp;– mainly because benzodiazepines are significantly less dangerous in [[drug overdose|overdose]]. However, barbiturates are still used in general anesthesia, for [[epilepsy]], and for [[assisted suicide]]. Barbiturates are derivatives of [[barbituric acid]].

The principal [[mechanism of action]] of barbiturates is believed to be [[positive allosteric modulator|positive allosteric modulation]] of [[GABAA|GABA<sub>A</sub>]] receptors.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Löscher W, Rogawski MA | title = How theories evolved concerning the mechanism of action of barbiturates | journal = Epilepsia | volume = 53 | issue = Suppl 8 | pages = 12–25 | date = December 2012 | pmid = 23205959 | doi = 10.1111/epi.12025 | s2cid = 4675696 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Examples include [[amobarbital]], [[pentobarbital]], [[phenobarbital]], [[secobarbital]], and [[sodium thiopental]].