Sedation

Sedation describes a clinical effect characterized by reduced irritability, excitement, or consciousness, achieved by pharmacologically depressing CNS activity. Agents producing sedation enhance inhibitory neurotransmission (typically via GABA-A, glycine, or alpha-2 adrenergic receptors), diminish arousal, and may overlap with hypnosis, anxiolysis, and amnesia[2][5][6]. Sedation is a desired effect in contexts such as surgery, anxiety management, and seizure control, but is not itself a molecular entity or receptor.

Other names

tranquilizationanxiolysiscalming effect

Drugs used for sedation generally act as central nervous system depressants—primarily by enhancing GABAergic signaling at the GABA-A receptor (benzodiazepines, barbiturates, propofol), antagonizing orexin receptors (daridorexant), agonizing alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (dexmedetomidine), blocking H1 histamine receptors (diphenhydramine), or agonizing opioid receptors (morphine, fentanyl)[1][2][4][6][7][9][3].