How do barbiturates differ from benzodiazepines regarding their effect on the GABA-A receptor chloride channel?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Barbiturates increase the duration of channel opening and can act as GABA mimetics at high doses
Barbiturates increase the duration of chloride channel opening. At higher concentrations, they can directly activate the receptor even in the absence of GABA, which contributes to their lower therapeutic index and greater risk of respiratory depression.
Keep practicing
More Sedatives and Hypnotics questions
- Which sedative-hypnotic is highly selective for the alpha-1 (BZ1) subunit of the GABA-A receptor, primarily providing hypnotic effects with…
- Which sedative-hypnotic is a melatonin receptor agonist used specifically for the treatment of sleep-onset insomnia?
- Suvorexant represents a newer class of hypnotics that works by which mechanism?
- Which benzodiazepine is preferred for use in elderly patients or those with liver failure because it undergoes only Phase II conjugation?
- What is the primary clinical use of the ultra-short-acting barbiturate Thiopental?
- Buspirone is unique among anxiolytics because it: