These drugs are used to treat pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and stress. Your central nervous system is made up of your brain and spinal cord and controls functions like your blood circulation and digestion. Different classes of CNS depressants work in different ways, but all have the ability to reduce activity in the central nervous system and lower levels of awareness in the brain. While CNS depressants all share this ability, there are significant differences among substances within this drug class. In particular, some are generally considered to be safer and are prescribed more than others.
- Examples of stimulants include cocaine, amphetamines, and caffeine.
- But, high doses of these drugs can reduce the activity of the CNS to dangerously low levels.
- During the first few days after taking a prescribed CNS depressant, a person usually feels drowsy and uncoordinated; however, this typically diminishes.
- While there are separate types because they have different primary effects, there’s a lot of overlap between them.
The decrease in nervous system activity makes these medications helpful for a variety of symptoms and conditions. Patients addicted to these medications should undergo medically supervised detoxification as the dose must be gradually tapered off. Inpatient or outpatient counseling can help the individual during this process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also has been used successfully to help individuals adapt to the discontinuation of benzodiazepine use.
Most Important Information to Know About Depressants
One benzodiazepine that’s noteworthy — even though it’s not approved (and illegal) in the United States — is flunitrazepam. This drug is best known as Rohypnol (or by the slang term “roofies”), and it’s infamous for its use as a “date rape” drug. As a result, flunitrazepam is a well-studied drug in the U.S. (and in many places worldwide).
After detoxification, a patient will typically move onto a residential inpatient or outpatient treatment program. It is important to note that dependence does not only happen in people who misuse sedatives. It also affects people who take them exactly as the doctor prescribed. Misusing sedatives, which means taking them in amounts or ways other than what the doctor prescribed, can have detrimental effects for a person, including overdose.
This is because long-term use—which is more common in older adults—can lead to tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. Benzodiazepines are a type of CNS depressant that have sleep-inducing, sedative, muscle-relaxing, and anticonvulsant effects. Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Halcion (triazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam) are the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines. Opioids are often misused and used recreationally, making them one of the leading causes of CNS depression. Some common types of opioids typically prescribed for severe pain include Vicodin and Percocet. Treatment for addiction to a central nervous system depressant begins with detox to allow the drugs to exit the system, preferably in rehab or medical facility.
Additional Common Questions
Doing so can help minimize the risk for dependence; although dependence may still occur if you take the medication for an extended period of time. Depressants can also lead to overdose if too much of the substance is bath salts addiction: signs risks and treatment taken or it is combined with another substance. When people overdose on depressants, their breathing slows or even stops. Opioids are strong pain relievers that are obtained from opiates like heroin and oxycodone.
Inhalants are a type of psychoactive drug that people typically take by inhaling. These products contain dangerous substances that have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties when inhaled. Overall, cannabis is a psychoactive drug that can have both short-term and long-term effects on health. Its use and possession are regulated in many parts of the world, and it is important to be aware of the laws and regulations regarding cannabis in your area. It is legal and easily accessible, which makes it a popular choice for people looking to relax or socialize. However, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to serious health problems, including liver disease, heart disease, and cancer.
Depressants are used by up to 7% of Americans and work by inhibiting central nervous system (CNS) function. While all CNS depressants share this ability, there are significant differences among substances within this drug class, and some are safer than others. If severe CNS depression is left untreated, it can be fatal for the person living with the condition. Naloxone is administered to people who are suffering from an opioid overdose. It can either be administered as an injection or given intravenously. Sometimes these effects can be mild, but they can also be severe and potentially dangerous.
Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelics, alter perception and mood, often resulting in vivid sensory experiences and altered states of consciousness. Examples of hallucinogens include LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and mescaline. These drugs are being drug and alcohol rehab in laguna beach studied and used for their medicinal purposes in helping many people with mood disorders. Only a doctor should prescribe a CNS depressant, and people should only use these drugs for the specified purpose, according to the doctor’s instructions.
If combined, they can slow breathing, or heart rate and respiration, which can be fatal. This risk is also compounded if CNS depressants are used to offset the effects of stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or Adderall. This category of CNS depressants includes non-benzodiazepine sleep aids, or “z-drugs,” such as Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta. These drugs are designed to specifically treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. These sleeping pills are chemically different from other central nervous system depressants, and they work by stimulating the GABA neurotransmitter in a different way. The drugs are thought to have fewer side effects and risk of addiction compared to benzodiazepines; however, long-term use can still result in dependence and addiction.
These symptoms can be minimized or avoided by slowly reducing the dose of the medication over a period of time to gradually wean off the substance. Dependence means that a person needs to keep taking the medication to avoid experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. If you experience any of these effects after taking a depressant, seek immediate medical attention or call 911.
If you have concerns about dependence and withdrawal from benzodiazepines, your healthcare provider can help you plan the timeline for your treatment. They can also recommend switching you to longer-acting benzodiazepines, which are less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. In conclusion, opioids are a class of drugs that are commonly used to treat pain.
What is CNS depression?
If it fits, the neurotransmitter can activate a process within the cell (starting your car).
What can I do to avoid dangerous events related to benzodiazepines?
Common types of depressants include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics. Another possible side effect of central nervous system depressant use is overdose. Excessive consumption of depressants can lead to respiratory depression, seizures, and potentially even death.
List of sedatives
It produces a sense of euphoria and relaxation, but it can also cause respiratory depression, constipation, and addiction. Morphine is a controlled substance and is available only by prescription. Stimulants are a class of psychoactive drugs that increase activity in the brain, impacting alertness and mood. They are generally defined as substances that excite functional activity in the central nervous system. They can also increase heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature [1]. Stimulants, on the other hand, increase brain activity and alertness, often resulting in feelings of euphoria and increased energy.
Common stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine. These drugs can be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, but they are also commonly abused for their effects. Alcohol can interact with these drugs, causing dangerous adhd and alcohol side effects or complications. There may be other circumstances where you shouldn’t take benzodiazepines with certain foods or beverages. Your healthcare provider can answer questions about whether to change what you eat or drink while taking these medications.
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