|
Note that the use of the words may be interchangeable depending on the nation it is used in, but this is the general definition of each.
'Depressant' is the large term off which everything else branches- any substance that depresses the nervous system.
Sedatives slow both mental and physical function. They are used to aid the inducing of sleep. It is actually (according to Wikipedia) usually just used as an umbrella term to throw everything else under, but strictly speaking when a substance (benzodiazepine, barbiturate, antipsychotic) causes both physical and cognitive depression, it is a sedative. An anxiolytic may fall in this box if it does so.
A tranquilizer specifically targets the CNS. This may include major tranquilizers (antipsychotics) and minor tranquilizers (benzodiazepines) and are typically not used to induce sleep. Anxiolytics are commonly benzodiazepines and therefore fall under this term.
Anxiolytics are drugs that are used to treat anxiety in the short term. These are specifically benzodiazepines nowadays (diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam etc.), as barbiturates (phenobarbital, pentobarbital etc.) were replaced due to the safer alternative.
A hypnotic is any drug specifically used to induce sleep. These are mostly the non-benzo or ‘Z-drugs’ such as Zolpidem, Zopiclone and so on. Benzodiazepines at a specific dosage may also act as a hypnotic, especially certain ones such as flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) which is often used in surgical procedures to put the patient into 'conscious sedation', a state where the patient is asleep, and will not be able to recall events if they wake up during this period.
__________________
Tic-Tac
|
Mar 15, 2017, 08:33 AM
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.
Linear Mode
