The document discusses sedative/hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs. It describes their mechanisms of action, which primarily involve enhancing GABAergic transmission in the brain. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates act as agonists at GABA-A receptors. These drugs can relieve anxiety and induce sleep, but have side effects like sedation, respiratory depression, and dependence with long-term use. Newer non-benzodiazepine drugs like zolpidem are also discussed.