(soporific) n. a drug that produces sleep by depressing brain function. Hypnotics include benzodiazepines (such as *loprazolam, *nitrazepam, and *temazepam) and drugs that act at benzodiazepine receptor sites, such as zaleplon, zolpidem, and zopiclone. Hypnotics are used for the short-term treatment of insomnia and sleep disturbances. Some of them (e.g. nitrazepam, *flurazepam) may cause hangover effects in the morning.... hypnotic
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