Sedative

Sedative
A drug that calms a patient down, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives generally work by modulating signals within the central nervous system. These sedatives can dangerously depress important signals needed to maintain heart and lung function if they are misused or accidentally combined, as in the case of combining prescription sedatives with alcohol. Most sedatives also have addictive potential. For these reasons, sedatives should be used under supervision, and only as needed.
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1. Calming; quieting. 2. A drug that quiets nervous excitement; designated according to the organ or system upon which specific action is exerted; e.g., cardiac, cerebral, nervous, respiratory, spinal. [L. sedativus; see sedation]

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sed·a·tive 'sed-ət-iv adj tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement <\sedative effects of anesthetics and analgesics (Linda C. Haynes )(et al)>
sedative n a sedative agent or drug

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n.
a drug that has a calming effect, relieving anxiety and tension. Sedatives are hypnotic drugs administered at lower doses than those needed for sleep (drowsiness is a common side-effect). See also anxiolytic.

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sed·a·tive (sedґə-tiv) [L. sedativus] 1. allaying activity and excitement. 2. an agent that allays excitement; see also tranquilizer. Called also calmative.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • sedative — (adj.) tending to calm or soothe, early 15c., from M.L. sedativus calming, allaying, from pp. stem of sedare (see SEDATE (Cf. sedate)). The noun derivative meaning a sedative drug is attested from 1785 …   Etymology dictionary

  • sedative — [adj] soothing allaying, anodyne, calmative, calming, lenitive, relaxing, sleepinducing, soporific, tranquillizing; concept 537 Ant. agitating, excitative, upsetting sedative [n] soothing agent, medicine analgesic, anodyne, barbiturate, calmant,… …   New thesaurus

  • sedative — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ promoting calm or inducing sleep. ► NOUN ▪ a sedative drug …   English terms dictionary

  • sedative — [sed′ə tiv] adj. [MFr sédatif < ML sedativus < L sedatus: see SEDATE1] 1. tending to soothe or quiet 2. Med. having the property of lessening excitement, nervousness, or irritation n. a sedative medicine …   English World dictionary

  • Sedative — Sed a*tive, a. [Cf. F. s[ e]datif.] Tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize; specifically (Med.), allaying irritability and irritation; assuaging pain. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sedative — Sed a*tive, n. (Med.) A remedy which allays irritability and irritation, and irritative activity or pain. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sedative — index drug, narcotic (adjective), narcotic (noun), palliative (abating) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Sedative — A sedative, or, more specifically, a sedative hypnotic, is a substance that depresses the central nervous system (CNS),cite web |url=http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns hl dorlands split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/seven/0000955… …   Wikipedia

  • sedative — n. 1) to administer, give a sedative 2) to take a sedative 3) a mild; strong sedative * * * [ sedətɪv] give a sedative strong sedative a mild to administer to take a sedative …   Combinatory dictionary

  • sedative — [[t]se̱dətɪv[/t]] sedatives 1) N COUNT A sedative is a medicine or drug that calms you or makes you sleep. They use opium as a sedative, rather than as a narcotic. 2) ADJ: ADJ n Something that has a sedative effect calms you or makes you sleep.… …   English dictionary

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