DEPRESSANTS

Sometimes called “downers,” these drugs come in multicolored tablets and capsules or
in liquid form. Some drugs in this category, such as Zyprexa, Seroquel and Haldol, are
known as “major tranquilizers” or “antipsychotics,” as they are supposed to reduce the
symptoms of mental illness. Depressants such as Xanax, Klonopin, Halcion and Librium
are often referred to as “benzos” (short for benzodiazepines 1). Other depressants, such
as Amytal, Numbutal and Seconal, are classed as barbiturates—drugs that are used as
sedatives and sleeping pills. Some of the well-known brand and street names can be
found here.

DEPRESSANTS: SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

 Slow brain function

 Slowed pulse and breathing
 Lowered blood pressure
  Poor concentration
 Confusion
 Fatigue2
 Dizziness
 Slurred speech
 Fever
 Sluggishness
 Visual disturbances
 Dilated pupils
 Disorientation, lack of coordination
 Depression
 Difficulty or inability to urinate
 Addiction

Higher doses can cause impairment of memory, judgment and coordination, irritability,
paranoia,3 and suicidal thoughts. Some people experience the opposite of the intended
effect, such as agitation or aggression.

Using sedatives (drugs used to calm or soothe) and tranquilizers with other substances,
particularly alcohol, can slow breathing and the heart rate and even lead to death.

(Photo credit: Stockxpert)

DEPRESSANTS: LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Tolerance to many depressants can develop rapidly, with

larger doses needed to achieve the same effect. The user,
trying to reach the same high, may raise the dose to a level
that results in coma or death by overdose.

Long-term use of depressants can produce depression,

chronic fatigue, breathing difficulties, sexual problems and
sleep problems. As a dependency on the drug increases, cravings, anxiety or panic are
common if the user is unable to get more.

Withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, weakness and nausea. For continual and high-
dose users, agitation, high body temperature, delirium, hallucinations and convulsions
can occur. Unlike withdrawal from most drugs, withdrawal from depressants can be life-
threatening.

These drugs can also increase the risk of high blood sugar, diabetes, and weight gain
(instances of up to 100 pounds have been reported).

In a study conducted by USA Today, based on Food and Drug Administration data over
a four-year period, antipsychotics (a type of depressant) were the prime suspects in
forty-five deaths caused by heart problems, choking, liver failure and suicide.

“I have overdosed twice off of prescription pills (Zyprexa) and had a close friend die of
the same drug....There is no worse feeling than knowing that your friend is dead
because you gave him pills you knew relatively little about.” 

STREET NAMES

DEPRESSANTS

Brand Names

Xanax

Valium

Halcion

Librium

Ativan
Klonopin

Amytal

Nembutal

Seconal

Phenobarbital

Street Names

Barbs

Candy

Downers

Phennies

Reds

Red Birds

Sleeping pills

Tooies

Tranks

Yellows

Yellow Jackets
 What are depressants?
What are depressants?

Depressants are psychoactive drugs that slow down the activity of the central nervous system
(the brain and spinal cord), which reduces a person's alertness, and also slows down functions
such as breathing and heart rate. These can take the form of pharmaceutical drugs as well as
illicit substances. Alcohol is also a widely used depressant.

Examples of depressant drugs:

 alcohol
 benzodiazepines (minor tranquilisers)
 cannabis
 heroin
 ketamine
 inhalants
 GHB

In small quantities depressants can cause a person to feel more relaxed. In large quantities they
can cause unconsciousness, vomiting and death. Mixing more than one depressant is dangerous
as this can make it harder to think clearly, properly control how you move and may stop your
breathing and cause death
Depression: Causes, Symptoms and
Treatments

Depression, or major depressive disorder, is a mental health condition marked by an

overwhelming feeling of sadness, isolation and despair that affects how a person thinks,
feels and functions. The condition may significantly interfere with a person's daily life
and may prompt thoughts of suicide. Depression isn't the same as sadness, loneliness
or grief caused by a challenging life experience, such as the death of a loved one.

In 2015, an estimated 16.1 million U.S. adults (aged 18 or older), or 6.7 percent of the
adult population, had at least one major depressive episode, or experienced depressive
symptoms, in the past year, making this condition one of the most common mental
disorders in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Depression can affect people of all ages, races and socioeconomic classes, and can
strike at any time. The condition is found in twice as many women as men, according to
the NIMH.

In a recently published report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
researchers found that women between 40 and 59 have the highest rate of depression
(12.3 percent) of any group based on age and gender in the United States.

Symptoms

People with depression may experience a variety of symptoms, but most commonly, "a
deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities,"
according to the American Psychiatric Association. Other symptoms of depression may
include:

 Irritability, agitation or restlessness

 Lower sex drive
 Inability to focus, concentrate or make decisions
 Insomnia or sleeping too much
 Change in appetite and/or weight, eating too much or too little
 Tiredness and lack of energy
 Unexplainable crying spells
 Unexplainable physical symptoms such as headaches or body aches
 Feeling hopeless or worthless
 Withdrawal from social situations and normal activities
 Thoughts of death or suicide

Causes

The causes of depression are not fully understood, but scientists think that an
imbalance in the brain's signaling chemicals may be responsible for the condition in
many patients. However, there are several theories about what this imbalance actually
is and which signaling chemicals are involved. Moreover, a variety of distressing life
situations are also associated, including early childhood trauma, a job loss, the death of
a loved one, financial troubles or a divorce.

Most likely, depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental,

and psychological factors, according to the NIMH. 

Certain medical conditions may also trigger depression, including an underactive thyroid
gland, cancer, heart disease, prolonged pain and other significant illnesses. Hormonally
induced depression can arise after childbirth or at menopause as well.

Additionally, some sedatives, such as sleeping pills, and high blood pressure
medications are linked to depression, according to the NIH.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a person with depression disorder, doctors may ask patients about their
family health history, mood and behavior patterns (such as eating and sleeping), and
thoughts of suicide. They may also ask patients to report their depression symptoms on
a printed questionnaire.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is a mental

health guidebook for doctors published by the American Psychiatric Association, to
diagnose a person with major depressive disorder, the person must show five or more
of the symptoms (listed above) for at least two weeks. The person must also exhibit a
depressed mood, or loss of interest or pleasure.
It must also be ruled out that the symptoms are not caused by another medical
condition, such as a thyroid problem, or due to the direct effects of a drug or medication.
So doctors may do a blood test, or test the thyroid to make sure it's functioning
properly, according to the Mayo Clinic.

And lastly, doctors look at whether "the symptoms cause clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning," according to
the DSM.
Treatment

Surveys have shown that up to half of Americans with depression don't get medical help
for their condition. Left untreated, major depression can set off a chain of social,
emotional and health consequences that add to patients' overall stress. According to the
Mayo Clinic, these include alcohol or drug abuse, anxiety, social isolation and
relationship conflicts, work or school difficulties, or suicide.

Depression treatment may involve psychotherapy therapy, medications, or a

combination of the two.

Medication: Prescription drugs, called antidepressants, help alter mood by affecting

naturally occurring brain chemicals. There are several categories of antidepressants,
but doctors often start with a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs), and may try other medications if the patient's condition didn't improve. 

SSRIs target the brain's serotonin, a signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) that studies
have found to be involved in depression. This class of medication includes fluoxetine
(commonly known as Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram
(Lexapro) and citalopram (Celexa). Side effects, which are usually temporary, include
changes in sexual desire, digestive problems, headache, insomnia and nervousness.

Other classes of antidepressants include serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake

inhibitors (SNRIs), Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), Tricyclic
antidepressants, and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Medications take time — usually 2 to 4 weeks — to work, and often symptoms such as
appetite, concentration problems and sleep improve before people may notice mood
changes, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. 

Psychotherapy: Also known as talk therapy or counseling, this treatment has been

shown to help some patients with depression. Several studies have suggested that
combining psychotherapy and medication together works best for treating people with
severe depression. Different types of psychotherapy include cognitive-behavioral
therapy, which helps a person change negative thought patterns and replace them with
healthier ones, as well as interpersonal therapy, which is designed to help someone
understand and work through difficult relationships, according to the National Institute of
Mental Health. Another form of psychotherapy is problem-solving therapy, which
involves coming up with realistic solutions to cope with stressful situations.
Less common treatments: For patients with severe depression who have not responded
to any medication or psychotherapy, doctors may consider transcranial magnetic
stimulation (TMS), according to the Mayo Clinic. TMS involves receiving brief magnetic
pulses on the scalp to stimulate nerve cells in the brain that are thought to be involved
in mood regulation and depression.