What makes a drug a depressant

Benzodiazepines include:. Sedatives hypnotics are primarily used as sleep aids, although benzodiazepines like Xanax are also used for this purpose. Like benzos, sedative drugs also work on GABA and have actions. In some cases, sedatives are used for decreasing mild levels of anxiety, but they are not commonly prescribed for this purpose. Ethyl alcohol EtOH , the alcohol that is contained in alcoholic beverages, is also a powerful central nervous system depressant that has many actions similar to the prescription drugs above.

Alcohol can:. Mixing stimulants and depressants can be dangerous. This thinking is misguided. The dangers of mixing stimulants and depressants depend on the types of substances, quantities, and your individual physical make-up, but may include:.

Misuse of a medication is using the medication for a reason other than its medicinal or prescribed purpose. Abuse is a chronic pattern of misuse. Addiction is a physical dependence on a substance.

Sedatives and tranquilizers are usually abused in conjunction with opioid drugs or alcohol. People who develop substance use disorders with CNS depressants often experience withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking them. Withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping alcohol, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines can be fatal because of the potential to develop seizures or from dehydration, which can cause several issues. This puts you at risk for overdose if you relapse.

Overdoses on any CNS depressant can be fatal. People who use depressants regularly, can develop a dependence and tolerance to them. Tolerance means they need to take larger amounts of depressants to get the same effect. Dependence on depressants can be psychological, physical, or both. People who are psychologically dependent may feel an urge to use them when in specific surroundings or socialising with friends.

People who depend on depressants may find that using the drug becomes more important than other activities in their life. Cravings can make it difficult to stop using depressants. Not sure what you are looking for?

Try our intuitive Path2Help tool and be matched with support information and services tailored to you. Drug List Drug Wheel Depressants. Last published: November 10, People who start taking CNS depressants usually feel sleepy and uncoordinated for the first few days until the body adjusts to these side effects.

Other effects from use and misuse can include:. If a person takes CNS depressants long term, he or she might need larger doses to achieve therapeutic effects. Continued use can also lead to dependence and withdrawal when use is abruptly reduced or stopped. Suddenly stopping can also lead to harmful consequences like seizures. Yes, a person can overdose on CNS depressants. An overdose occurs when the person uses enough of a drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death read more on our Intentional vs.

Unintentional Overdose Deaths webpage. When people overdose on a CNS depressant, their breathing often slows or stops. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia can have short- and long-term mental effects and effects on the nervous system, including coma and permanent brain damage.

The most important step to take is to call so a person who has overdosed can receive immediate medical attention. The drug might not completely reverse slowed breathing and can lead to seizures in some patients who are taking certain antidepressants. We will send you an email with a link to reset your password. Email Address. Opioids and Morphine Derivatives. Opioids and Morphine Derivatives Effects. Abuse of Over-the-counter Drugs. International Statistics.

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