sedation

Sedation refers to a state in which a person becomes calm, relaxed, drowsy, and less aware, usually because of medication. It is more than simply feeling tired. It involves a lowering of alertness and responsiveness, but it does not always mean complete unconsciousness. The level can vary from light sedation, where a person is awake and responsive, to deep sedation, where waking them may be difficult.

In medical contexts, sedation is often used during procedures such as colonoscopies, endoscopies, dental work, or minor surgeries to reduce discomfort, anxiety, and movement. A doctor, dentist, or other trained healthcare professional may monitor the person closely throughout the procedure. Different medicines can be used to create different levels of sedation, depending on the situation and the patient's needs.

The word can also be used more broadly for a sleepy or slowed state caused by alcohol, drugs, or similar substances. In less literal writing, people may use it figuratively to suggest the numbing of feelings or a quieting of the mind, but that is less common than the medical meaning.

It is important to distinguish sedation from anesthesia. General anesthesia is meant to produce a full loss of consciousness, while sedation usually leaves some degree of awareness or responsiveness, especially at lighter levels. In everyday English, the word most often points to the controlled use of medicine to help someone relax or sleep during treatment.