Table 1.

General mechanisms for sedation.

Drugs group	Mode of action
Benzodiazepines	Potentiate GABA-mediated chloride ion influx
Barbiturates	Potentiate GABA and directly enhance chloride ion influx
Ketamine	Antagonize excitatory influences of glutamate
Antihistamines	Antagonize excitatory influences of histamine & acetylcholine
Opioids	Activate mu and kappa opioid receptors
Inhalation anesthetics	Potentiate inhibitory neurotransmission

Al-Zahrani et al., 2009, Kauffman et al., 1992, Curran, 1986, Mistry and Nahata, 2005, Kupietzky and Houpt, 1993, Dionne, 1999).