Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines

For nearly a century, depressants have been used to reduce anxiety, induce sleep and relieve stress in people. While alcohol is the most commonly used depressant,

There are two routes available to treat anxiety and other mental health disorders; one being the therapy route for example CBT, mindfulness and applied relaxation and the other being the pharmacological route where drugs such as benzodiazepines, anti-depressants and anti-convulsants can be prescribed.

Depression is a serious mental disorder that may be displayed by major episodes of sadness, restlessness, and loss of interest. Depression has several symptoms such as excessive sleep, increased or loss of appetite, aches, cramps, insomnia, and fatigue. It can affect anyone of all ages and may not be recognizable for those who are experiencing it. A medication called anti-depressants helps treat depression by altering the serotonin receptors levels. There are several types of anti-depressant medications such as Abilify, Celexa, Aplenzin, Asendin, and many more. There are individuals that may argue that anti-depressants are an over-prescribed medications. They believe that this medication can affect the patient’s mental status and inhibit self-control with this addictive drug. On the other hand, the opposition may argue that anti-depressants are not overly prescribed and that it should not be problematic because it is an accessible, helpful, and a quicker treatment. The debate of whether anti-depressants are an over-prescribed medication has been an ongoing controversial issue as evidenced by statements of supporters and those in opposition.

Like alcohol, barbiturates also bind to the GABA-A receptors to continuously arouse the neurotransmitter GABA. This causes the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter to be excessive, which causes the drug to be a depressant. Large amounts of this drug being consumed causes the respiration rate to be reduced. Unfortunately, this can contribute to death because breathing can be stopped completely. The drug is usually consumed to treat anxiety and causes users to become calm and relaxed. There are two types of barbiturates called short-acting and long acting barbiturates. Short-acting barbiturates causes rapid onset and the effects span for about two or three hours. Barbiturates that are considered long-acting will have a slower onset, but

Prescriptions for sleeping medications reached 56 million in 2008, thats 54%more than in 2004, sleeping pills can be consumed for many reasons, 27% of Americans say reasons for sleeping issues are usually anxieties about personal finances, the economy or a job loss, adults are not the only people taking these medicines, 10-19 year old are the most common to use because of ADD medication, though 40% of adults will have sleeping problems occasionally, the medications can vary very wide that are considered as sleeping pills. Barbiturates are a type of drug that causes sedation by depressing the central nervous system. In larger doses it can be used as a general anesthetic to put people to sleep. Benzodiazepines are usually the most commonly prescribed for sleeping issues, the

Enhance the affinity of the recognition site for GABA by inducing conformational changes that make GABA binding more efficacious.

The pain spoke meanwhile sadness pierced through skins, however, the drugs was able to silence the beast within. Antidepressant the legal drug of choice is prescribed by doctors to treat a variety of medical conditions. These drugs are often prescribed by themselves or sometimes with others with the intent of having a greater effect on the beast within. Antidepressants come in several classes with each being stronger than the one before. Although antidepressants are often prescribed to treat depression in recent times the distribution of these drugs across the medical field have widened. Since the 1950s, medical personnels have moved from having two antidepressants: iproniazid and monoamine-oxidase inhibitor used to treat tuberculosis to now

It is also used to treat normal sleeping patterns and appetite, and for reducing anxiety. It works by modifying the activity of relevant neurotransmitter pathways.Some of the categories of antidepressants, defined in (Queensland state Government, 2018) are :

The types are benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Benzodiazepines are the most abused overall though. Benzodiazepines have many medical uses and are often prescribed by doctors to treat panic disorder, OCD, Phobias, PTSD and more anxiety disorders. They are even used to treat insomnia, convulsive disorders and are even used in dentistry. The drug acts on the receptors of GABA neurotransmitters which is what helps relax patients. Some examples of drugs are Xanax, Ativan, Valium and Klonopin. Although most people don't die from abuse of benzodiazepines, if mixed with alcohol can be fatal. One of the most commonly abused substances of this class is a drug called Xanax. Abuse of benzodiazepines can lead to many side effects such as amnesia, disinhibition, emotional blunting and depression. Disinhibition from these drugs can decrease a person's self control and can lead to excessive anger and poor decision making. It is very similar to how alcohol can increase this also. Along with depression increases in suicidal ideation can occur (Longo and Johnson, pp.

Pharmacotherapy i.e. treatment through drugs in this case antidepressants, is one of the many therapies used to treat depression. There are varieties of antidepressants that are used as a treatment of depression, for example tricyclics. The newest and most commonly used antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The Cochrane review (2007) has showed evidence that SSRIs such as fluoxetine compared with a placebo have been effective when treating depression in children and adolescents. Another type of antidepressants that have been used in treatment of depression are tricyclics, unlike SSRIs, a study by Hazell (2004) has shown that they are an ineffective treatment of depression.

Are anti-depressants a medication or a mental steroid?” (Kramer). For many years there has been an ongoing talk about anti-depressants. The big question is, are they really a cure for depression or just a mental steroid. An anti-depressant is a medication used to treat depression and other anxiety disorders. When proscribed to children and teens there can be severe side effects such as an increased chance to commit suicide or have suicidal thoughts or actions. This risk of suicide is higher for people under the age of 25. (Mayo Clinic Staff). Teenage usage of anti-depressants has been a controversial issue for many decades.

The second most commonly abused prescribed drug is sedatives/depressants. These types of pills are used for anxiety and sleeping. If these types of prescriptions are abused it can make the person really high and not remember what they are doing. Signs can be excessive sleepiness, slurred speech, and acting really mean (Davis).people usually look for this kind of drug because they are depressed and the want to try to hide something in their life. This drug slows down the heartbeat so if someone takes to many it can cause their heart to stop. The two most commonly abuse depressants are valium and

They slow the body down. They relax, tranquilize, relieve pain and induce sleep. One may say and do things that they would never do under normal circumstances. When these depressants bare abused they can slow do0wm body functions such as breathing to an extent that a person may pass out or even lapse into a coma.

Another common form of psychoactive drugs is depressants, in which many people also have participated in using,

In addition to taking stimulants, Wunder explains that most patients suffering from narcolepsy also have to take anti-depressants to maintain alertness and avoid excessive amounts of fatigue, loss of muscle tone and strength, and sleep paralysis. Some of the anti-depressants prescribed to narcoleptic patients includes: “imipramine (Tofranil), desimpramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).” Scientists and researchers are able to make more advanced medicines to make life more livable for those who have narcolepsy. Hopefully, narcoleptic patients will soon be able to live a life without having to worry about suddenly falling asleep and missing the events occurring in their lives.