Depressants And Its Effects On The Brain

“About 150 studies in seventeen countries say that antidepressants have side effects”(cchr International). One of the most used antidepressant would be zoloft or lexapro. Even these two medications have side effects. Before they figured out they had side effects, people believed that they all worked the same. Some of the side effects are heart problems, suicide risks or attempts, causes anxiety, aggression, urges to self harm, and suicidal thoughts. If any of these are happening you can go talk to your doctor or just continue taking them. They have about 26 different types of medication that people can try. By taking antidepressants they will work by balancing chemicals in your brain. They can help with your mood, with sleeping better, and help with concentrating. The antidepressants can help sustain your nerve cells. Also some of the drugs that people take can cause depression. So be careful about what you are taking.

Antidepressants have a history of causing violent side effects, including suicide and homicide in those consuming the prescribed drugs. Many antidepressants that are prescribed to those with a mental illness come packaged with a warning label that reads: “New or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive behavior; irritability; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement." This warning label is a most know for school officials who are aware of students dealing with a mental illness. Statistics show that five of the top 10 most violence-inducing drugs were found

In spite of the concerns associated with antidepressants and their negative impact with certain therapy medicines and their potentially addictive qualities, they are still regularly used in drug rehabilitation. That's because their positives still outweigh the negatives, especially when dealing with the mental illness that often comes with illicit drug

Research Question: Are antidepressants being over prescribed, if so what other options do doctors have and what should they be considering?

Prescription depressants: Common prescription medications in the depressant category include xanax and klonopin. A person may use either of these medications, along with a variety of others, in order to combat anxiety. When a person, who is prescribed these medications and only takes them as directed by their doctor, uses depressants they will feel calm and not on edge, this is due to the medicines working with chemicals in the brain and inducing a relaxed feeling. “Depressants work with the brain chemical GABA that slows down brain function” (JourneyPure).

These chemicals can interfere with the process of brain cells communicating with each other. According to Dr. Marissa Merandez (2006), “Psychoactive drugs alter communications between brain cells. Individual brain cells (neurons) communicate with one another through a series of biological messengers called neurotransmitters.” The altered communications of these neurotransmitters is determined by the chemical in use. Psychoactive chemicals can tinker with these communications in many ways. “[Psychoactive chemicals] interfere with normal brain function by blocking it [neurotransmitter communication], or by altering the way neurotransmitters are stored, released, and removed...” (Marissa Merandez, 2006). Interfering with neurotransmitter communications and the distribution of neurotransmitters is what gives a psychoactive chemical its intended effects. The general groupings of these substances fall into either depressants, stimulants, opioids, and hallucinogens. Depressants diminish the activity of the central nervous system. Also, possible long term effects could result in changed brain function and structure, reduced mental capacity, and decreased brain volume. Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system, but risk abnormalities in specific regions of the brain, loss of some mental capacity,

Drugs that are depressants include Zyprexa, Seroquel and Haldol, are known as major tranquilizers or antipsychotics, they reduce the symptoms of mental illness. Some other depressants, such as Amytal, Numbutal and Seconal, are classed as barbiturate, which are used as sedatives and sleeping pills. Depressants have the effect of feelings of well-being, lowered inhibition, slowed thinking, slowed muscular activity,a distorted view of the world, or hallucinations Depressants act on the brain by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA. By increasing GABA and inhibit brain activity,they produce a drowsy or calming effect beneficial to those suffering from anxiety or sleep

Many people are taking anti-depressants because of serious concerns to their health. When you stop taking them, you will no longer have protection from these issues.

I know that antidepressants produce side effects that can turn out to be worse than what they are being used to treat, such side effects can include suicidal thoughts/actions, insomnia, and anxiety. Antidepressants are used to treat disorders such as anxiety disorder, depression, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Most antidepressants are supposed to work by reducing the elimination of certain substances from the brain. These substances are called neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and norepinephrine). The neurotransmitter is needed for regular brain tasks and is involved in the control of mood and in other responses and meanings, such as eating,

There are three types of prescription drugs that are commonly abused including Opioids, Central Nervous System Depressants and Stimulants. An opioid is a medication used to treat pain, including oxycodone, hydrocodone and meperidine (“Prescription Drug Abuse,”n.d.) Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord preventing the brain from receiving messages which cause pain (“Prescription Drug Abuse,”n.d.) Unlike opioids, central nervous system depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks and sleep disorders (“Prescription Drug Abuse,”n.d.) Central nervous system depressants decrease brain activity by increasing the activity of a certain neurotransmitter which results in a calming effect (“Prescription Drug Abuse,”n.d.) Common examples of central nervous system depressants include pentobarbital sodium, diazepam, and alprazolam (“Prescription Drug Abuse,”n.d.) Stimulants, the third commonly abused type of prescription drugs are used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD by increasing brain activity (“Prescription

The debate to prescribe children psychiatric drugs has been going on for at least 57 years. 2,165,279 children are prescribed anti-depressants. 8,389,034 children are prescribed anti-psychiatric drugs. Although the medication may work, there are alternative treatments available until more research is done to determine more long-term side effects. A person’s brain does not develop fully until the age of 25. If you give a child a strong medication before psychological treatment to determine how mentally unstable the child is; the child may not be physical and mentally the same once he/she is adapted to the medication prescribed. This is why adolescents should not be given anti-depressant or anti-psychiatric

However, if abused, these depressants can have many unwanted and harmful effects. With prescribed depressants, the first few days a person usually feels sleepy and uncoordinated, but as the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the drug and tolerance develops, these side effects begin to disappear. Sometimes the dosage isn’t enough, and the user requires more of the drug or begins to use long term, and larger doses may be needed to achieve the therapeutic effects. Continued use can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal when use is abruptly reduced or stopped.

When we talk about medication and the different side effects, it makes you wonder why someone would risk their own health just for a medication. Although the drug I will be researching shows limited side effects and is something that many physician would recommend to their own patients. My reasons for choosing Prozac, is to learn more about the drug and how it helps individuals whom have depression. Another reasons for this, is to learn more about the side effects and how it can be a positive outlook for someone who have mental illness. Lastly, for the last few years I have been dealing with depression and I want to learn more about the different drugs option to help individuals control their depression

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.