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depressant |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.04 sec. |
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depressant, any one of various substances that diminish functional activity, usually by depressing the nervous system nervous system, network of specialized tissue that controls actions and reactions of the body and its adjustment to the environment. Virtually all members of the animal kingdom have at least a rudimentary nervous system. ..... Click the link for more information. . Barbiturates barbiturate (bärbĭch`ərāt'), any one of a group of drugs that act as depressants on the central nervous system . ..... Click the link for more information. , sedatives sedative, any of a variety of drugs that relieve anxiety. Most sedatives act as mild depressants of the nervous system, lessening general nervous activity or reducing the irritability or activity of a specific organ. ..... Click the link for more information. , alcohol, and meprobamate meprobamate (məprō`bəmāt') ..... Click the link for more information. are all depressants. Depressants have various modes of action and effects. Some are primarily used medically to relieve emotion stress, anxiety, and tension; others induce sleep, and still others are used to relieve pain. Depressants also reduce the rate and force of contraction of the heart and are used in the treatment of some forms of heart disease heart disease, any of several abnormalities of the heart and its function in maintaining blood circulation. Heart disease is the cause of approximately half the deaths in the United States each year. ..... Click the link for more information. . Many depressants can induce psychological dependence and addiction (see drug addiction and drug abuse drug addiction and drug abuse, chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. ..... Click the link for more information. ). Typically, overdosage results in confusion, coma, and convulsions. In many cases, the effects of one depressant are intensified if another depressant is taken at the same time, e.g., if barbiturates are taken with alcohol. Because of their potential for abuse, there are now strict regulations regarding the dispensing of many depressant drugs. |
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| The new second edition of Drug Abuse Sourcebook updates and expands details on illicit substances of abuse both over the counter and illegal, from depressants and hallucinogens to marijuana and more. International concerns about the safety of a group of anti depressant drugs, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have prompted experts to consider warning prescribes to avoid the use of this group of drugs. For example, when cough syrup containing the CNS depressant dextromethorphan (DXM) is abused or mixed with other drugs, the syrup can contribute to car accidents when the abuser is slow or unable to react. |
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depressant
