Sedative used in the treatment of insomnia and convulsions. Adverse effects include respiratory depression, paradoxical excitement, and allergic reactions.
Chemical signal that triggers a biochemical response; formation is usually stimulated by a drug, neurotransmitter, or hormone binding a cell surface receptor. One of the most common is cyclic AMP, whose function as a second messenger is vital in numerous biochemical processes in the body, as well as in the actions of many medications.