A Closer Look At Depressant Drugs5936644
Downers refer to a class of drugs that are all known to have similar sedating qualities. The term downer itself is an umbrella term that includes chemicals like benzodiazapines, barbiturates, and alcohol. Also known as depressants, downers also fall into one of the two classes' tranquilizers and hypnotic sedatives. It is often considered its own class of drug because of the widespread social use of alcohol. The common denominator for downers is their effect on the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. GABA is responsible for soothing the central nervous system as well as slowing heart rate, inducing sleep and breathing. It works effectively to counter the effects of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, and together the two works in union to sustain proper heart rate, and alertness. On the other hand too much norepinephrine can lead to several anxiety disorders that can be responsible for 'panic attacks'. Hence downers are frequently prescribed to treat these conditions.
There are narcotics and opiate based pain killers that are at times clubbed together with downers. Though opiates produce a sedating effect on the body, they do not directly affect the neurotransmitter GABA and are as a result a different class of drugs.
Today the most commonly prescribed downers are the benzodiazapines, that are at times called benzos. The more popular benzodiazapines include diazepam (Valium), clonazepam ( order clonazepam ) (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan). These drugs are generally prescribed for anxiety disorders, but also find uses in putting off seizures, and as muscle relaxants.
Prior to the discovery of benzodiazapines in the 1950s, barbiturates were widely used for various medical measures. Barbiturates are chemicals derived from the chemical barbituric acid. The most common barbiturates include phenobarbital, secobarbital, butalbital, butabarbital, pentobarbital and sodium thiopental. Barbiturates are considered more toxic than benzodiazapines, and also have a much reduce therapeutic index.
A therapeutic index is the assortment among the minimally successful therapeutic dose and the deadly dose of the compound. The drug is considered dangerous, if the marrow index implies that a deadly dose of the drug is not much more than the advised dosage. On this foundation, benzodiazapines have mostly changed barbiturates for use as drugs. There are a amount of pain drugs that nevertheless have Barbiturates and hence find use as basic anesthetics.
Downers all have a substantial prospective for abuse, and are exceptionally addictive chemicals. At present downers as a class of drugs that includes alcohol, they are undoubtedly the most widely abused drugs on earth. Even without having alcohol, they are rated amid the most abused and addictive prescription drugs. In truth benzodiazapines are straightforward to build a bodily dependence on, specifically because of their substantial therapeutic index and minimal toxicity. Often seek the advice of a medical skilled or a medical doctor 1st, as all downers, which includes alcohol, have really extreme withdrawal signs, and must not be discontinued from each day use.
