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What are depressants?
Depressants are drugs that slow down the normal function of the
central nervous system (CNS) and suppress the neural activities
in the brain. Depressants work by affecting the part of the brain
that controls a persons bodily functions like breathing and heartbeat.
Depressants affect each person differently; response times to
depressants can range from immediate to several hours.
Examples of depressants are alcohol, marijuana, inhalants and
prescription drugs. The prescription drugs that affect the central
nervous system are also referred to as downers, sedatives, hypnotics,
minor tranquilizers, and anxiolytics or anti-anxiety medications.
Why do people take depressants?
Depressants are prescribed by doctors to tranquilize and/or relieve
anxiety, irritability, and tension; some may also be used to sedate
or induce sleep.
Types of depressants:
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Depressants by Drug
Types
Drug name >>> brand
/ trade names
*** Names may differ by country ***
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Alcohol (ethanol) |
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Barbiturates |
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- Aprobarbital >> Alurate
- Amobarbital >> Amytal
- Amylbarbial & Secobarbital >> Tuinal
- Butabarbital >> Buticaps, Butisol, Butalan
- Butarlbital >> Esgic, Fiorinal
- Hexobarbital >> Sombulex
- Pentobarbital >> Nembutal
- Phenobarbital >> Solfoton
- Secobarbital >> Seconal
- Thiopental >> Pentothal
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Benzodiazepines |
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- Alprazolam >> Xanax
- Chlorazepate >> Tranxene
- Chlordiazepoxide >> Librium
- Clonazepam >> Klonopin
- Diazepam >> Valium, Ducene
- Flunitrazepam >> Rohypnol
- Flurazepam >> Dalamane
- Halazepam >> Paxipam
- Lorazepan >> Ativan
- Nitrazepam >> Alodorm, Mogadon
- Oxazepam >> Alepam, Murelax, Serepax
- Prazepam >> Centrax
- Quazepam >> Doral
- Temazepam >> Euhypnos, Normison, Restoril
- Triazolam >> Halciom
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Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) |
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- Gamma butyrolactone (GBL)
- and 1,4-butanediol are GHB analogues
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Inhalants & Solvents
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Marijuana / Cannabis |
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Others |
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- Bromide salts
- Chloral Hydrate >> Aquachloral, Aquachloral Supprettes,
Noctec
- Ethchlorvynol >> Placidyl
- Glutethimide >> Doriden
- Mandrax
- Meprobamate >> Apo-Meprobamate, Equanil, Meprospan,
Miltown, Trancot
- Methaqualone >> Sopor, Quaalude
- Methyprylon >> Noludar
- Paradelhyde >> Paral
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Depressants are also known as:
Antianxiety medications, Barbs, Blues, Blue devils, Downers/Downs,
Fender Benders, Florinal, G.B.'s, Green Dragons, Goofballs, Ludes,
Mickey Finn, Rainbows, Reds, Red Devils, Sleepers, Tranqs, Tranquilizers,
Quads, Yellows, Yellow Jackets, ... more
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How are depressants taken?
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Depressants are taken orally, through injection, or smoked.
What are the possible effects of depressants
use ?
- Calm, relaxation
- Lack of facial expression or animation.
- Skin may feel cold and clammy
- Altered senses, reduced anxiety,
- Behaviour similar to alcohol intoxication
- Staggering, stumbling, lack of coordination, slurred speech
- Falling asleep (nodding), difficulty concentrating
- Dilated pupils
- Decreases body temperature and heart rate
- Nausea, Increased perspiration
- Depressants taken in combination with each other or with
alcohol, has the potential to cause serious impairment or
death.
Chronic / long term use of depressants
may cause:
- Physical dependence
- Loss of coordination in motor skills, slurred speech
- Impaired judgment
- Hallucinations, paranoia
- Impaired memory
- Psychotic episodes
- Altered eyesight
- Chronic fatigue
- Decreased libido
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Irratic heartbeat
- Respiratory depression
- Convulsions
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What are the risks associated
with pregnancy and depressants use ?
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- Deficiencies in mental and motor development, birth defects,
fine motor control.
- Diminished balance and response time, learning and behavioral
problems.
- Newborns may show signs of drug dependance, and/or withdrawal
symptoms.
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Symptoms of depressants overdose:
- Shallow respiration
- Clammy skin
- Dilated pupils
- Weak and rapid pulse
- Coma
- Death
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Withdrawal symptoms:
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The withdrawal from depressants may be hazardous and/or potentially
lethal. To stop abruptly or reduce the dosage of depressants
the user may be at risk of convulsions, delirium, and death.
Symptoms of withdrawal can last 8-10 days.
- Anxiety
- Delirium
- Disorientation
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Convulsions
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Possible death
- Tremors
- Changes in perception (altered sensitivity to light, sound
and smells)
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For further
information on depressants, we have included these links:
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Full text - Articles, booklets and fact sheets:
Web sites :
If you know of a good resource, feel free
to recommend it by sending
us a link and we will do our best to add it.
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References:
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Ashton, C Heather DM, FRCP. "Benzodiazepines:
How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual)"
Revised August 2002. Benzodiazepine Addiction, Withdrawal
& Recovery. (2003) < http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm
> [April 2 2003]
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Aucker, Robert S., PharmD. and Linda
Lane Lilley, RN PhD. "Central Nervous SYstem
Depressants and Muscle Relaxants" Pharmacology
and the Nursing Process. 3rd. ed., (2001) Chapter
11. p:157-173.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA). " NCADI: Drugs of Abuse" Inventory
#RP0926 National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information (NCADI)
< http://www.health.org/govpubs/rpo926/> . [March
01, 2003]
- U.S. Department of Justice. Drug Enforcement Administration.
"Depressants" Drugs of Abuse. (February
2003) < http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/abuse/index.html
> [June15, 2003]
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out our Youth
Resouces page.
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