Sleeping pills that allow you to wake up in case of emergency could be a reality
| Jan 15, 2019, 17:16 IST
If you’ve seen comedy movies enough, you’ve probably come across a scene where a character takes a sleeping pill to get a good night’s sleep but is suddenly bombarded with important work, and struggle to fight his urge to sleep. The recent future may not have such a scene in a movie, because scientists have proposed a new type of hypnotic drug as an alternative. This alternative would function as a sleeping pill while still allowing the consumer to wake up if an emergency arises.
Most sleeping pills contain a drug called benzodiapines that makes us less likely to rouse as a response to a threat, even when one is asleep. Published in the journal, Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, the study has reported that an experimental hypnotic drug by the name DORA-22 preserves the ability to respond to an emergency, while making one drowsy in an absence of an emergency.
The experimental drug and benzodiapine has been tested widely on a group of mice, with a mixed bunch of results. To confirm DORA’s potential as a sleeping aid, more clinical and human testing are needed.
We don’t know about the rest of you, but we would really like this drug to hit the shelves already!
Most sleeping pills contain a drug called benzodiapines that makes us less likely to rouse as a response to a threat, even when one is asleep. Published in the journal, Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, the study has reported that an experimental hypnotic drug by the name DORA-22 preserves the ability to respond to an emergency, while making one drowsy in an absence of an emergency.
The experimental drug and benzodiapine has been tested widely on a group of mice, with a mixed bunch of results. To confirm DORA’s potential as a sleeping aid, more clinical and human testing are needed.
We don’t know about the rest of you, but we would really like this drug to hit the shelves already!