Because of the generalized depressant effects of barbiturate compounds on ion channels, specific antidotes to barbiturate binding can only partially neutralize their overall toxicity. Besides the barbiturates and benzodiazepines, many other small molecules function as sedatives and hypnotics. These include organic liquids such as alcohols, ethers, and esters, and a variety of classes of solid compounds. Most of these drugs no longer enjoy much clinical use, as they usually pose a greater toxicity with no greater efficacy. The tetramer of acetaldehyde is called metaldehyde and is employed as a snail and slug poison.
Chloroform is a volatile solvent whose vapors function as an inhaled anesthetic like nitrous oxide.
Chloral hydrate is another chlorocarbon compound, known popularly as knockout drops. It has been combined chemically in a number of ways to produce similarly acting compounds, e.g. chloralantipyrine, pentaerythriolchloral, etc. The valerate compounds occur in Valerian root. It has recently been popularized as a poor-man's rohypnol. Like most CNS sedatives it can induce coma and respiratory suppression in sufficient doses.