Which drug is known to induce hypnosis and sleep by acting on the centers for wakefulness?

Which drug is known to induce hypnosis and sleep by acting on the centers for wakefulness?

• A. Brevital
• B. Methohexital
• C. Ketamine
• D. Fentanyl

Answer: (B)

The drug known to induce hypnosis and sleep by acting on the centers for wakefulness is Methohexital. This medication is a short-acting barbiturate that works primarily as a central nervous system depressant. It enhances the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at GABA-A receptors, leading to sedation and hypnosis. Methohexital is often used for induction in anesthesia because it produces rapid onset of action and quick recovery, making it suitable for short surgical procedures. In contrast, while Brevital is also a barbiturate and serves a similar function, Methohexital is more specifically recognized for its rapid hypnotic effects. Ketamine, on the other hand, operates differently. It primarily acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist and provides dissociative anesthesia rather than straightforward hypnosis. Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic that mainly provides pain relief and does not directly induce hypnosis or sleep.

The drug known to induce hypnosis and sleep by acting on the centers for wakefulness is Methohexital. This medication is a short-acting barbiturate that works primarily as a central nervous system depressant. It enhances the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at GABA-A receptors, leading to sedation and hypnosis. Methohexital is often used for induction in anesthesia because it produces rapid onset of action and quick recovery, making it suitable for short surgical procedures.

In contrast, while Brevital is also a barbiturate and serves a similar function, Methohexital is more specifically recognized for its rapid hypnotic effects. Ketamine, on the other hand, operates differently. It primarily acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist and provides dissociative anesthesia rather than straightforward hypnosis. Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic that mainly provides pain relief and does not directly induce hypnosis or sleep.