Uses and Concerns with Depressants + Quiz Questions

Beneficial Uses of Depressants •Anxiolytics "Sedatives often prescribed to reduce anxiety four benzodiazepines are among the top 100 most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. Xanax Ativan #klonopin * Valium Concerns: Anxiolytics • Sedatives are not appropriate for all anxiety disorders. ex: obsessive compulsive disorder or specific probia Overprescribed? most of the prescriptions for antianxiety medications are not written by pryeniatints, nor are they written for patients with clearly defined anxiety disorders Hypnotics or Sleeping Pills *a large enough dose of a hypnotic drug is taken to help one get to sleep more quickly almost 17% of women and about 9% of men reported insomnia in a national health Survey people who visit their doctors complaining of insomnia Should probably be evaluated for depression effective nonmedical ways of dealing with insomnia exist halcion can produce an unusual number of adverse psychiatric reactions in patients Concems: Nonbenzodiazepine Hypnotics *Concerns about nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics include sleepwalking, eating, and driving while people. are in a Semi-walking State * in 2008, au hypnotic drugs were required to carry a warning label • zolpidem-related ER visits more than tripled between 2005 and 2010 Anticonvulsants barbiturates and benzodiazepines may be prescribed for epileptic seizures Other antiepileptic drugs are prescribed in preference to benzodiazepines or barbiturates, but they may be used in combination •potential concerns tolerance can make it difficult to find a dose that is effective but doesn't cause excessive drowsiness abrupt withdrawal is likely to cause seizures Causes of Concern for Depressants: Dependence Liability • psychological dependence associated with Short-acting sedatives physical dependence withdrawal Syndrome is similar to alconal withdrawal Syndrome and potentially life- threatening *Common side effects after Chronic use of benzodiazepines include anxiety, impaired Concentration and memory, insomnia, nightmares, muscle cramps, increased sensitivity to touch and to light, and so on more severe Symptoms, which may include delirium tremens, delusions, convulsions, and severe depression, occur after abrupt withdrawal from Chronic use of surger doses Cross-dependence occurs among barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and aconol Causes of Concern for Depressants: Toxicity •behavioral toxicity depressants produce alcohol-like intoxication with impaired judgment and incoordination - additive effects result if. if they are combined with acconol physiological toxicity depressants *produce respiratory depression * are dangerous if combined with alcool Patterns of Abuse of Depressants most abuse is associated with the oral use of legally manufactured products • two types of typical abusers "older adults using prescription drugs who develop tolerance and increase their dosage younger people who obtain drugs to get high. *3 may take high doses, mix several drugs, or drink alcohol with the drug Inhalants • example of products that contain inhalable Solvents that produce effects similar to those of depressants gasoline, glue, paint, lighter fluid, spray cans, nail polish, and correction fluid Examples of Inhalants • gaseous anesthetics nitrous oxide or laughing gas alouse occurs among physicians and others with access to these gases nitrites "amyl nitrite: first introduced into medicine as a treatment for chest pain * butyl, isopropyl, and isobutyl nitrite produce effects similar to those of amyl nitrite Volatile Solvents Paint, paint thinner and remover, nail polish remover, Correction fluid, and gives * ingredients include petroleum, acetone, and toluene Gaseous Anesthetics nitrous oxide was first used in the early 1800s "acquired the name "laughing gas" Still used for light anesthesia by dentists used as a propellant in whipping-cream Containers and is sold in small bottles for use in home whipping-cream dispensers Nitrites relax blood vessels increase blood flow and briefly lowers blood pressure used as a treatment for cyanide poisoning with high doses, there might be a brief sense of lightheadedness or faintness resulting from lower blood pressure used in various cleaning products Some users have inhaled these products to achieve the effect of inhaling nitrites Volatile Solvents "the modern era of solwent arouse can be traced back to 1959 investigative article in the Supplement of a Denver, Colorado, newspaper Sunday news articles and education programs demonstrated how to abuse volatile Solvents - use may have spread because of increased publicity in general, alouse tends to occur as localized hads most users are very young - 4.6% of Sm graders reported use in the past year 2% of high schod senior class reported the use past year Dangers of Inhaling Solvents •Several Solvents have been linked to: - Kidney damage brain damage peripheral nerve damage irritation of the respiratory tract Severe headache death by Suffocation Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid or GHB naturally ocurring Chemical found in the brain and other parts of the body Structurally Similar to the inhibitory neurotransmiter GABA is a CNS depressant behavioral effects are similar to those of alcohol • Schedule I drug, except for xyrem "reduces frequency of cataplexy, which is a narcolepsy Symptom Quiz Questions "among the barbiturates, when prescribing a sleeping pill (hypnotic), physicians would Usually choose a -a) higner dose of a Short-acting drug -b) lower dose of a long acting drug "c) higher dose of a long-acting drug -d) lower dose of a Short-acting drug when benzodiazepines bind to their receptor site, they -a) release barbiturates b) block acetylcholine receptors c) reduce the membrane electrical potential "d) enhance the inhibitory effects of GABA