Definition of Depressant Drugs

The depressant drugs they are substances capable of producing an inhibitory effect on some brain functions, leading to the appearance of a state of calm and stillness.

The main depressants of the nervous system They are the drugs used under medical prescription to treat states of anxiety, panic disorder, as well as conciliatory insomnia. They are often used without medical indication, especially in stressful situations emotional.

There are also drugs of abuse that have a depressant effect on the nervous system, as is the case with marijuana and heroin.

Main nervous system depressant drugs

The most widely used depressants are benzodiazepine-type medications, including diazepam, bromazepam, and alprazolam. These drugs are used as tranquilizers and also for the treatment of insomnia.

Another group of depressants includes barbiturates, one of the best known representatives of this group being phenobarbital. This type of medicine is used mainly to treat disorders like seizures.

Main effects of depressant drugs in the body

Medications, as well as the various substances used as tranquilizers, produce their effects through changes in a neurotransmitter of the brain known as GABA (Acid Gamma-Aminobutyric for its acronym in English). This has an inhibitory effect on brain activity, an effect that is enhanced by depressant drugs.

The decrease in brain activity is related to the appearance of a state of mental tranquility accompanied by drowsiness. Other effects that occur are: lack of coordination to carry out movements, disorders of the memory and cognitive problems.

With their prolonged use, these substances are capable of producing two very characteristic effects: on the one hand, the phenomenon known as tolerance, which makes it necessary to take higher doses every time to obtain the desired effect and on the other hand the addiction, their abrupt suspension being accompanied by potentially severe withdrawal symptoms, these are characterized by a state of hyperactivity that can trigger the appearance of seizures

Depressant drugs are one of the types of medications that are risky when combined with alcohol, since the depressant effect on the nervous system is enhanced. Nor should they be combined with medicines for allergies or colds (in the case of the latter because they generally combine acetaminophen with an antiallergic), or with strong-intensity pain medications that include opioids (such as tramadol).

Marijuana and heroin, main depressant drugs of abuse

Marijuana is a plant used since ancient times both to achieve relaxation and pain relief, and to promote trance for mystical and religious purposes in various cultures. Its main form of consumption consists of smoking its leaves.

More recently, at the beginning of the 20th century, heroin, obtained synthetically from morphine, was incorporated. It is the drug with the greatest potential for both physical and psychological addiction, having a very marked narcotic or depressant effect.

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