THIOPROPAZATE, a phenothiazine derivative, is a typical antipsychotic. It is a prodrug to perphenazine.

Triflupromazine is antipsychotic and an antiemetic drug (sold under the brand names VESPRIN) which used to management of psychoses. However, this drug was discontinued. Triflupromazine binds to the dopamine D1 and dopamine D2 receptors and inhibits their activity. Moreover, binds the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1 and M2).

Promazine (Sparine) is a phenothiazine neuroleptic used for short-term management of moderate to severe psychomotor agitation and treatment of agitation and restlessness in the elderly. Promazine is an antagonist at types 1, 2, and 4 dopamine receptors, 5-HT receptor types 2A and 2C, muscarinic receptors 1 through 5, alpha(1)-receptors, and histamine H1-receptors. Promazine's antipsychotic effect is due to antagonism at dopamine and serotonin type 2 receptors, with greater activity at serotonin 5-HT2 receptors than at dopamine type-2 receptors. This may explain the lack of extrapyramidal effects. Promazine does not appear to block dopamine within the tuberoinfundibular tract, explaining the lower incidence of hyperprolactinemia than with typical antipsychotic agents or risperidone. Antagonism at muscarinic receptors, H1-receptors, and alpha(1)-receptors also occurs with promazine. Promazine is not approved for human use in the United States. It is available in the US for veterinary use under the names Promazine and Tranquazine.

Ethchlorvynol is used to treat insomnia (trouble in sleeping). It developed by Pfizer in the 1950s. In the United States it was sold by Abbott Laboratories under the tradename Placidyl. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, ethchlorvynol appears to depress the central nervous system in a manner similar to that of barbiturates – by means of GABA-A receptors modulation. Moderate side effects are: Skin rash or hives; dizziness or faintness; unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness. It is addictive and after prolonged use can cause withdrawal symptoms including convulsions, hallucinations, and memory loss.

Methyprylon (brand name Noludar) is a sedative agent, which used to treat insomnia. But then the drug was replaced in the market by another drugs with less side effects. The precise mechanism of action is not known, but was made suggestion, that methyprylon increases the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

HEPTABARBITAL is an intermediate or short term barbiturate. It binds to the GABAA receptor at either the alpha or the beta subunit. This GABAA receptor binding decreases input resistance, depresses burst and tonic firing, especially in ventrobasal and intralaminar neurons, while at the same time increasing burst duration and mean conductance at individual chloride channels; this increases both the amplitude and decay time of inhibitory postsynaptic currents. HEPTABARBITAL was formerly used as a sedative and hypnotic drug.

Talbutal is a short to intermediate-acting barbiturate, which had been used under brand name Latusate as a sedative and hypnotic, but then this usage was discontinued. It was found, that talbutal binds at a distinct binding site at the GABAA receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl- ionopore is open. Thus, the post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged.

Meparfynol is a tertiary hexanol and potent tranquilizer with hypnotic/sedative and anticonvulsant effects and exceptionally low therapeutic index. It was discovered by Bayer in 1913 and was used shortly thereafter for the treatment of insomnia, but its use was quickly phased out in response to newer drugs with far more favorable safety profiles. Meparfynol depresses monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes and exerted weak ganglion and neuromuscular blocking actions. Meparfynol also produces transitory hypotension, an increase of aortic blood flow. Perfusion of the coronary arteries with Meparfynol led to a slowing of the heart, diminished systolic amplitude, dysrhythmias, and increased coronary flow. Respiration was stimulated with small and depressed with larger doses of Meparfynol.

Pyrithyldione is a sedative and hypnotic drug. It was demonstrated that drug has certain advantages over the barbiturates. It was indicated in mild cases of insomnia and in small doses as a sedative agent during the day. Pyrithyldione was withdrawn from the marked due to several cases of agranulocytosis.

Sodium thiopental (also known as Sodium Pentothal, thiopental) was discovered in 1930s by investigators working for Abbott Laboratories. Thiopental sodium was used for the induction of general anesthesia and is used as an adjunct to provide hypnosis during balanced anesthesia with other anesthetic agents, including analgesics and muscle relaxants. Thiopental sodium was also used as an adjunct for control of convulsive disorders of various etiology, including those caused by local anesthetics. Finally, thiopental sodium had been used to reduce the intracranial pressure in patients with increased intracranial pressure, if controlled ventilation is provided. Nevertheless, these prescriptions of drug were discontinued. In addition, this drug was banned for use in US executions. Thiopental sodium acts through the CNS with particular activity in the mesencephalic reticular activating system. It was shown, that mechanism of action of sodium thiopental via GABAA receptor. Thiopental binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl- ionopore at the GABAA receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl- ionopore is open. The post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged.