SMi Source Lesson Insomnia: GABA Receptor Drugs

  • SMi Source lesson Insomnia: GABA Receptor Drugs has the following microlearning topics

  • 1. Mechanism of Action

  • Lesson Insomnia: GABA Receptor Drugs teaches these concepts

  • GABA Receptor Drugs, Mechanism of Action, Insomnia, Sleep Aid, Benzodiazepines

  • Lesson Insomnia: GABA Receptor Drugs addresses these key points

  • Mechanism of action:

    • Prescription sleep aids depress central nervous system function by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA
    • GABA binds to the GABA-A receptor
    • GABA-A receptor opens an ion channel through which chloride ions enter the cell and inhibit neuronal activity

    Benzodiazepines:

    • Treat insomnia by binding to an allosteric site on the GABA-A receptor
    • Do not discriminate which type of alpha-subunit they bind to, resulting in non-specific binding
      • Accounts for unwanted side effects

    Non-benzodiazepine:

    • Bind selectively to the alpha-1 subunit
      • Accounts for the lack of many side effects