Depressant
A drug or substance that reduces activity in the central nervous system, often slowing brain function and bodily processes.
GABA: Gamma-aminobutyric acid is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult human brain. Many depressants enhance signaling through GABA receptors, reducing neuronal activity.
Sedative: A substance that calms agitation or reduces mental and physical activity. Sedation is a common therapeutic effect of several depressant drug classes.
Respiratory depression: Abnormally slow or shallow breathing caused by impaired control of respiration. Severe depressant toxicity can suppress breathing enough to cause brain injury or death.
Stimulant: A substance that increases central nervous system activity, alertness, or arousal. Stimulants generally increase alertness, contrasting with depressants' slowing effects.
GABA receptor: A cell-surface receptor that responds to gamma-aminobutyric acid and reduces neuronal excitability. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates act at GABA-A receptors to strengthen inhibition.
Anxiolytic: A drug or intervention that reduces anxiety. Some depressants, especially benzodiazepines, are prescribed for short-term anxiety relief.
Overdose: A harmful reaction caused by taking a toxic amount of a drug or other substance. Overdose can follow excessive depressant use, especially when substances are combined.
Hallucinogen: A psychoactive substance that can alter perception, thought, and sensory experience. Hallucinogens primarily alter perception rather than producing the defining slowing of depressants.
Alcohol: Ethanol is a psychoactive drug that impairs coordination, judgment, and central nervous system function. It is a widely used depressant with effects on several neural signaling systems.
Hypnotic: A drug that promotes sleep or helps initiate and maintain it. Depressant effects can be used therapeutically to treat insomnia.