Sedatives Flashcards
What is the most popular and safest CNS depressant in use today?
benzodiazepine
- safe for short term, longterm can cause SUDs and withdrawal problems
Effects of depressants
reduce CNS activity
diminish awareness
Sedatives
relive anxiety, fear and apprehension
Hypnotics
induce drowsiness and encourage sleep
Amnesiac
cause loss of memory
anesthesia
loss of sensation or consciousness
GABA
hyper polarization
what is the primary route of misuse of depressants?
oral
Mild intoxication of depressants
talkative
mellow
feeling of welling being, appears drunk
moderate intoxication of depressants
- incoordination
- difficulty thinking and concentrating
- poor memory and speech
- disinhibition of sexual and aggressive impulses
- exaggerated personality traits
severe intoxication of depressants
- lateral nystagmus
- constricted pupils
- diplopia
- depressed deep tendon reflexes
- respiratory depression
Barbiturates
used in medicine as sedatives and hypnotics and anticonvulsants
- medically induced coma
Tolerance of depressants
occur only after prolonged use
- benzodiazepines are often combined with illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine
Long acting barbiturates and misuse
low misuse liability
short acting barbiturates and misuse
much more often misused and associated with SUDs
