HPRO 2255 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Mesolimbic Pathway, Depressant, Central Nervous System Depression
Document Summary
At low doses depressant drugs might be prescribed for daytime use to reduce anxiety (as sedatives) At higher doses the drug is prescribed as sleeping pills (hypnotics), this group is referred to as sedative-hypnotics and are part of a larger group considered to be central nervous system (cns) depressants. Most widely used depressant is alcohol, most widely prescribed types of sedative-hypnotics fall into the chemical groups called: benzodiazepines now called barbiturates. Similar depressant affect id produced by inhalants: volatile solvents, aerosols, gaseous anaesthetics, and nitrites that young people inhale to get high. Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, and drug used to facilitate sexual assault share many characteristics with the major cns depressant alcohol. Dermatitis and constipation are minor accompaniments; with increased intake, motor disturbances, delirium, and psychosis can develop. Barbital (veronal) was first used clinically in 1903. Phenobarbital (luminal) was clinically used in 1912: short-acting (pentobarbital, secobarbital) Time of onset: 15 min: duration of action: 2-3 hours.
