Some people also use opioids and opiates, such as heroin, as recreational drugs. Many countries, including the U.S., classify benzodiazepines (sometimes known by the slang term “benzos”) as controlled substances. It’s illegal to have or obtain them (depending on the laws where you are) if you don’t have a prescription. People who take CNS depressants may have mild symptoms such as drowsiness or feeling uncoordinated. People who misuse the medication or become dependent on it may have more severe symptoms, such as very slow breathing and memory loss.
In some cases, you can become sick or experience seizures if you’re body is used to high amounts of the sedative and go “cold turkey” without easing yourself off the drug. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Addiction to CNS depressants may see a person experience social and family problems, difficulty working, and an inability to function in daily. A person may recover from an overdose, but research in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology shows that some may continue to have problems with everyday functioning after leaving the hospital.
They can guide you on what you can do to take your medications as prescribed and stay safe at the same time. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and clonazepam are used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. Benzodiazepines are not prescribed for long-term use because of their high risk of developing dependence or addiction. Usually, these symptoms are helpful in managing anxiety and sleep conditions and shouldn’t cause alarm.
- Yes, benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed and see widespread use.
- They may recommend that you switch medications or adjust the dosage.
- It’s illegal to have or obtain them (depending on the laws where you are) if you don’t have a prescription.
Tricyclic and otc xanax replacement tetracyclic (TCA) antidepressants can also intensify the effects of CNS depressants, especially drowsiness. People with any of these conditions should check with a doctor before using a CNS depressant. Some antihistamines have sedating properties and are useful in treating mild sleep problems. Obstetric anesthesiologists may also give sedatives to people experiencing distress or restlessness during labor. Opiates refer to natural opioids such as morphine and codeine.
The inhibition of brain activity causes a person to become more relaxed, drowsy, and calm. Sedatives also allow GABA to have a stronger inhibitory effect on the brain. The following is a list of sedatives that people commonly use. People with bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seizures principle of aa may also benefit from prescription sedatives. Your nervous system uses chemical and electrical signals to send and relay messages throughout your body.
Conditions
No matter your drug of choice, you can see that there are hazards and life-threatening dangers. Research shows that the earlier individuals seek treatment, the better their chance at success and not relapsing. Both types can cause hallucinations or sensations and images that seem real though they aren’t. Dissociative drugs can cause users to feel out of control or disconnected from their bodies and environment. There are five main categories of drugs based on their chemical ingredients and their effect on users. Symptoms of psychological dependence include needing the drug to function and being obsessed with obtaining the drug.
Withdrawal
In the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulates controlled substances. Selling or using them outside these regulations is a federal crime. As a recreational drug, people sometimes call them barbs, downers, or phennies, among other names. Find out here more about the uses and risks of CNS depressants. Benzodiazepines can pose a threat without you ever knowing it. Taking precautions is one of the best ways to protect yourself from unknowingly taking these drugs.
Mixing CNS depressants, opioids, and alcohol increases their effect. There may be severe adverse reactions and possibly life-threatening consequences. Misuse can also happen if a person uses someone else’s medication, if they take more than the recommended dose, or if they use drugs that a doctor has not prescribed. Sexual and violent crime are other areas where people are known to misuse CNS depressants. The sedative Xyrem, known as the “date rape drug,” commonly features in cases of sexual assault.
What conditions do benzodiazepines treat?
Specifically, sedatives make the neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) work overtime. By upping its level of activity in the CNS, sedatives allow GABA to produce a much stronger effect on your brain activity. Some CNS depressants become less effective over time, so that a person may feel the need to take a larger dose. If they stop using the drug, the original symptoms can return more severely than before. Sometimes, a person may not realize they are at risk of an overdose, such as when they use opioid pain relief medication and then drink alcohol.
Alcohol
But, high doses of these drugs can reduce the activity of the CNS to dangerously low levels. A person may benefit from taking the correct dose of a CNS depressant, such as an opioid pain relief medication. You should also talk to your doctor before increasing your dose.
Withdrawal symptoms
Help is available in many forms if you’re concerned about an addiction to sedatives. Talk to your doctor before you start taking sedatives and be sure to follow their directions. Don’t feel like there’s something wrong with you or a loved one with an addiction or that you’re failing yourself or others. Talk to your doctor if you feel like you can’t stop yourself from using sedatives. Dependence also becomes evident when you need a higher dose to achieve the same effect.
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, which control most bodily functions, including breathing and the heart. CNS depression occurs when a person’s central nervous system has slowed down, causing a slower heart what are whippets rate and slower breathing. It is very easy to overdose on these substances, especially if the user has no tolerance.
Carbamates, such as meprobamate, are depressants that are similar to barbiturates. Anesthetics are generally depressants; examples include ketamine and propofol. CNS depressants include tranquilizers, sedatives, and hypnotics, which are substances that can slow brain activity. This makes them useful for treating anxiety and sleep disorders.
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