Applied Pharmacology for the Dental
Hygienist Chapter 9 updated 2026
• Patient anxiety -✓✓Fear and apprehension experienced by patients during dental
treatment
• Anti-anxiety agents -✓✓Medications used to reduce anxiety and encourage patients to
seek dental treatment
• GABA -✓✓Neurotransmitter amplified by benzodiazepines
• Potassium -✓✓Ion that causes hyperpolarization
• Valium -✓✓Trade name for Diazepam
• Versed -✓✓Trade name for Midazolam
• Ativan -✓✓Trade name for Lorazepam
• Halcion -✓✓Trade name for Triazolam
• Ambien -✓✓Trade name for Zolpidem
• Sonata -✓✓Trade name for Zalepam
• Rozerem -✓✓Trade name for Ramelteon
• Flexeril -✓✓Trade name for Cyclobenzaprine
• Pentothal -✓✓Trade name for Thiopental
• Benzodiazepines -✓✓Medications used for anxiety reduction, sedation, and muscle
relaxation
• Medical Uses of Benzodiazepines -✓✓Prescribed for anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia,
alcohol withdrawal, conscious sedation, general anesthesia, anti-seizure and muscle
relaxation
• Behavioral effects of Benzodiazepines -✓✓Reduction of anxiety and panic, drowsiness
and sleep, anti-seizure effects, and muscle relaxation
, • Adverse Reactions of Benzodiazepines -✓✓CNS depression, and CNS stimulation,
talkativeness, anxiety, nightmares, tremulousness, hyperactivity, increased muscle
spasticity, anterograde amnesia, respiratory effects, cardiovascular effects, visual
effects, dental effects, thrombophlebitis, gastrointestinal and genitourinary effects,
allergic reactions, and pregnancy & lactation considerations
• Abuse and Tolerance of Benzodiazepines -✓✓Potential for addiction with prolonged
use of large doses, but less than other sedative-hypnotic agents
• Drug Interactions with Benzodiazepines -✓✓Can cause severe drowsiness, respiratory
depression, coma, and death when combined with opioids, alcohol, or other CNS
depressants
• Barbiturates -✓✓Medications used for relaxation, CNS depression, hypnosis, and
anticonvulsant effects
• Pharmacological Effects of Barbiturates -✓✓Enhibits GABA- receipting binding
causing Relaxation, disinhibition, euphoria, hypnosis, anesthesia, and anticonvulsant
effects
• Contraindications of Barbiturates -✓✓Absolute contraindication in patients with
intermittent porphyria or positive family history of porphyria
• What is porphyria? -✓✓Disorders resulting from buildup of certain chemicals related to
red blood cell proteins.
• Adverse Reactions of Barbiturates -✓✓coughing or laryngospasms, depress liver and
kidney functions, reduce gastrointestinal effects.
• what is the trade name for Buspirone -✓✓Buspar
• Buspirone -✓✓Used for sleep
• Zolpidem -✓✓used for sleep
• Trade name for Zolpidem -✓✓Ambien
• Trade name for Zaleplon -✓✓Sonata
• Zaleplon -✓✓Rapid-acting hypnotic with shorter duration of action, used to decrease
premature awakenings or lengthen total sleep time
• Trade name for Eszopiclone -✓✓Lunesta used for sleep
Hygienist Chapter 9 updated 2026
• Patient anxiety -✓✓Fear and apprehension experienced by patients during dental
treatment
• Anti-anxiety agents -✓✓Medications used to reduce anxiety and encourage patients to
seek dental treatment
• GABA -✓✓Neurotransmitter amplified by benzodiazepines
• Potassium -✓✓Ion that causes hyperpolarization
• Valium -✓✓Trade name for Diazepam
• Versed -✓✓Trade name for Midazolam
• Ativan -✓✓Trade name for Lorazepam
• Halcion -✓✓Trade name for Triazolam
• Ambien -✓✓Trade name for Zolpidem
• Sonata -✓✓Trade name for Zalepam
• Rozerem -✓✓Trade name for Ramelteon
• Flexeril -✓✓Trade name for Cyclobenzaprine
• Pentothal -✓✓Trade name for Thiopental
• Benzodiazepines -✓✓Medications used for anxiety reduction, sedation, and muscle
relaxation
• Medical Uses of Benzodiazepines -✓✓Prescribed for anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia,
alcohol withdrawal, conscious sedation, general anesthesia, anti-seizure and muscle
relaxation
• Behavioral effects of Benzodiazepines -✓✓Reduction of anxiety and panic, drowsiness
and sleep, anti-seizure effects, and muscle relaxation
, • Adverse Reactions of Benzodiazepines -✓✓CNS depression, and CNS stimulation,
talkativeness, anxiety, nightmares, tremulousness, hyperactivity, increased muscle
spasticity, anterograde amnesia, respiratory effects, cardiovascular effects, visual
effects, dental effects, thrombophlebitis, gastrointestinal and genitourinary effects,
allergic reactions, and pregnancy & lactation considerations
• Abuse and Tolerance of Benzodiazepines -✓✓Potential for addiction with prolonged
use of large doses, but less than other sedative-hypnotic agents
• Drug Interactions with Benzodiazepines -✓✓Can cause severe drowsiness, respiratory
depression, coma, and death when combined with opioids, alcohol, or other CNS
depressants
• Barbiturates -✓✓Medications used for relaxation, CNS depression, hypnosis, and
anticonvulsant effects
• Pharmacological Effects of Barbiturates -✓✓Enhibits GABA- receipting binding
causing Relaxation, disinhibition, euphoria, hypnosis, anesthesia, and anticonvulsant
effects
• Contraindications of Barbiturates -✓✓Absolute contraindication in patients with
intermittent porphyria or positive family history of porphyria
• What is porphyria? -✓✓Disorders resulting from buildup of certain chemicals related to
red blood cell proteins.
• Adverse Reactions of Barbiturates -✓✓coughing or laryngospasms, depress liver and
kidney functions, reduce gastrointestinal effects.
• what is the trade name for Buspirone -✓✓Buspar
• Buspirone -✓✓Used for sleep
• Zolpidem -✓✓used for sleep
• Trade name for Zolpidem -✓✓Ambien
• Trade name for Zaleplon -✓✓Sonata
• Zaleplon -✓✓Rapid-acting hypnotic with shorter duration of action, used to decrease
premature awakenings or lengthen total sleep time
• Trade name for Eszopiclone -✓✓Lunesta used for sleep
