Depressant is the former name for a group of drugs that slow the activity of the nervous system. Today, physicians call these drugs antianxiety and hypnotic drugs. They are used to ease pain, cause sleep, or reduce tension. Many are either habit-forming or addictive. If a person takes such a drug daily for several weeks, a physical or psychological dependence on it may develop. An overdose can be fatal.
Antianxiety and hypnotic drugs include alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, and benzodiazepines. Alcohol decreases most functions of the brain. Sedatives calm a patient or bring on sleep. Tranquilizers lessen tension without decreasing physical activity. Benzodiazepines are a class of depressants frequently described as both sedatives and tranquilizers.
See also Alcoholism (Effects of alcoholism); Benzodiazepine; Drug (Antianxiety and hypnotic drugs); Sedative; Tranquilizer.
