Continued use can also lead to dependence and withdrawal when use is abruptly reduced or stopped. Suddenly stopping can also lead to harmful consequences like seizures. High doses or combining these drugs with other substances can lead to severe CNS depression and potentially fatal outcomes.
Dissociative Drugs
People who use benzodiazepines may develop a substance use disorder. Amphetamines are prescription stimulants generally used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Amphetamines are misused when they are taken in a way or dose that’s different than prescribed or taken without a prescription. If a person takes CNS depressants long term, he or she might need larger doses to achieve therapeutic effects.
There are allosteric binding sites for various ligands, including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and neurosteroids. As yet, an allosteric site where ethanol works is not known, although the inhibitory effects of ethanol are ultimately mediated through the GABAA receptor. Misuse can also happen if a person uses someone else’s medication, if they take more than the recommended dose, or if they use drugs that a doctor has not prescribed.
In this blog, we will explore how depressants affect the CNS and their impact on overall health. Unlike other forms of depression that primarily impact mood, CNS depression affects most bodily functions, including breathing, heart rate, and blood circulation. This condition can result from various factors, including medications, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury, and underlying medical conditions. There are different types of CNS depressants, including benzodiazepines, barbiturates and sleep medications. Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia.
- There may be severe adverse reactions and possibly life-threatening consequences.
- At high doses, toxic effects such as nausea and vomiting, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, convulsions, coma, and respiratory failure can occur.
- The effects of methylphenidate include increased wakefulness and energy.
- Barbiturates are misused when they are taken in a way or dose that’s different than prescribed or taken without a prescription.
- Barbiturates have mostly been replaced with benzodiazepines and Z-drugs for treatment of insomnia and anxiety because they have fewer issues with dependence and overdose.
- Some drugs that are commonly used as sedatives, hypnotics (sleep aids), and anesthetics are CNS depressants.
The classical GABAA receptor is part of what is called the GABAA chloride channel receptor complex. Anyone witnessing signs of CNS depression or an overdose in another person should call the emergency services or local poison control center for guidance. Overdoses of prescription painkillers in the U.S. is a growing problem, especially among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Is ayahuasca addictive?
This does not apply to common dental work such as fillings or braces. People who use nicotine in any form may develop nicotine addiction. Nicotine is a highly addictive active ingredient in the tobacco plant. Vaping devices are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol, which usually contains nicotine, as well as flavorings and other chemicals. They may look like traditional tobacco cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or even everyday items like pens or USB memory sticks.
How Do CNS Depressants Work?
Prescription benzodiazepines and opioids carry the highest level of warning from the U.S. Some of these substances, for example, codeine, are present in medications for coughs or diarrhea. Many CNS depressants work by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that prevents or slows the delivery of messages between cells. However, if you find that your CNS depressants affect your daily functioning, speak to your doctor about it.
For the last chapter in this unit, we will take a detailed look at alcohol, the most infamous depressant of all. Much of the terminology used to describe alcohol’s effects will have already been introduced in this chapter, so make sure you are comfortable with this chapter’s material before moving on. Addiction to CNS depressants may see a person experience social and family problems, difficulty working, and an inability to function in daily. Some types of CNS depressant can also have long-term effects, causing someone to have difficulty thinking, confusion, speech problems, loss of coordination, and muscle weakness. As a recreational drug, people sometimes call them barbs, downers, or phennies, among other names. These are chemically different from other CNS depressants, but they work by stimulating the same inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA.
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In severe cases, CNS depression can lead to respiratory failure and death, especially when combined with other CNS depressants like alcohol. Understanding these motivations is crucial in addressing the issue of CNS depressant misuse and promoting healthier coping strategies. While both CNS depression and mood-related depression involve the brain, they are fundamentally different. Mood-related depression primarily affects emotions and mental state, what is a cns depressant often treated with antidepressants and therapy.
- Because of their widespread use by children, inhalants are reportedly the fourth-most misused substance after alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.
- One of the latest neuromodulation therapies available at UTSW’s Peter O’Donnell Jr.
- These are chemically different from other CNS depressants, but they work by stimulating the same inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA.
- Sometimes these effects can be mild, but they can also be severe and potentially dangerous.
How do people take meperidine?
If you’ve ever had a substance abuse problem, you should continue to avoid alcohol and mediations that depress the CNS. To determine the cause of your CNS depression, your doctor will probably order a series of blood and urine tests. It rules virtually every other part of your body and mind, including how you feel about and interact with the world around you.
Meperidine is a prescription opioid pain reliever used for severe, acute pain. Loperamide can cause feelings of relaxation or happiness, similar to other opioids. Some people use it to lessen opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. A few studies have suggested that ibogaine can reduce substance use withdrawal symptoms and cravings, but deaths have been reported in these studies and more research is needed.
There are also behavioral treatments for substance use disorders, such as contingency management or cognitive behavioral therapy. An overdose can be reversed if overdose reversal medications, including naloxone (sometimes sold as Narcan®), are given quickly. An overdose can be reversed if overdose reversal medications, including naloxone (sometimes sold as Narcan®) are given quickly. While CNS depressants can be helpful for medical conditions, they are also highly addictive. Therefore, these substances should only be used under the strict supervision of a healthcare professional.
First responders will administer oxygen and begin monitoring the heart. You may also be at higher risk if you have existing respiratory problems such as emphysema and sleep apnea. Mixing alcohol with other CNS depressants magnifies their impact and in many instances can be fatal. The spinal cord handles nerve impulses, allowing your brain to communicate with the rest of your body.