Chapter 7 Depressants and Inhalants 2006 Mc GrawHill

Chapter 7 Depressants and Inhalants © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Depressants § § Most widely-used and abused drugs in the U. S Is popular for its stress and anxiety relieving properties © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

History § Before Barbiturates: § § § Chloral hydrate was first synthesized in 1832 but not used clinically until 1870– for sleep Paraldehyde was first synthesized in 1829 but not used clinically until 1882 – very safe – very, very bad taste and odor Bromides – to induce sleep in the 19 th century, used until 1960 s in OTC meds © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

History § In the 1950 s the first benzodiazepines were marketed as substitutes for barbiturates § § Relatively safe when used for short periods Long-term use can cause dependence and withdrawal problems © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Effects of CNS Depressants § § CNS depressants reduce CNS activity and diminish the brain’s level of awareness Depressant drugs include: § § § Benzodiazepines Barbiturate-like drugs Alcohol Antihistamines Opioid narcotics like heroin GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Types of CNS Depressants § Benzodiazepines: Valium-Type drugs § § Prescribed for anxiety and sleep Four of the top-selling prescription drugs in the U. S. § § Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, diazepam Medical uses § Relief from anxiety, neurosis, muscle relaxation, alleviation of lower-back pain, treatment of convulsive disorders, induction of sleep, relief from withdrawal symptoms, induction of amnesia © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Types of CNS Depressants § Types of benzodiazepines: § § § Side effects: § § 14 benzodiazepine compounds on the market Distinguished primarily by their duration of action: short-acting (hypnotics), long-acting (sedatives) Drowsiness to paradoxical effects (i. e. Rophynol, used to make victims vulnerable to sexual assault) Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, and abuse © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Figure 7. 1 Schematic diagram of the relative time course of two barbiturates and two benzodiazepines after oral administration. © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Effects of CNS Depressants § The clinical value of CNS depressants is dose dependent: § § § Low dose (sedatives, relieve anxiety and promote relaxation) Higher doses (hypnotics, can cause drowsiness and promote sleep) At even higher doses (anesthetics, can cause anesthesia and are used for patient management during surgery) © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Effects of Inhalants § § § Nausea Cough/sneeze Light-headedness Damage heart, kidneys, brain Hypoxia/death © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Inhalants § § Gaseous Anesthetics Nitrites § § Rapid delegation of the arties, great for blood pressure Unpleasant smell Volatile Solvents GHB © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Dangers of Inhalants § § § SSD Damage brain, liver, kidney, heart, fetus Accidents associated with “intoxication” and fires © 2006 Mc. Graw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.