Author: Gary Jackson

A review on alcohol: from the central action mechanism to chemical dependency

Potentially fatal liver problems and spikes in blood pressure are other really good reasons not to mix these drugs. For example, it can make some people happy and talkative while others become angry and engage in more risky behaviors. Below are some of the most common questions and answers about alcohol. Stimulants increase a person’s energy, alertness, and attention. Prolonged alcohol consumption is also closely linked to cancer and suicide.

Central nervous system depressants are sometimes called sedatives or tranquilizers, although those terms are more properly applied to specific categories of CNS depressants. If you suffer from insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, or seizures, your doctor may prescribe a class of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) depressants. These medications are designed to slow your brain down, relax your muscles, and provide a sense of calm. Because of the way that depressants affect brain chemistry and slow activity, withdrawal can be severe and sudden when an individual stops taking them. Withdrawal symptoms typically begin 12 to 24 hours after the last dose of the drug and are most severe between 24 and 72 hours after this dose.

Here is an overview of common side effects of central nervous system depressants:

The FDA-approved options include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. The immediate effects of drinking alcohol can help you feel more relaxed, more confident, and less inhibited. However, as these short-term effects wear off, other effects begin to take hold. This includes feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions.

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that control communication between nerve cells. Studies have found that heavy drinkers when compared to light or non-drinkers, may be more likely to experience greater stimulant and rewarding responses from alcohol than sedative effects. This may put them at a higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). In addition, drinking alcohol quickly and in large amounts can lead to more severe symptoms, such as memory loss, coma, even death. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to a central nervous system depressant, know that you are not alone and there are treatment options available. Some CNS depressants become less effective over time, so that a person may feel the need to take a larger dose.

Conditions

The depressant effect of alcohol can get worse if you drink to excess. Both alcohol and antidepressants can make you tired, less alert, and uncoordinated. So unless you really want to be stumbling around before you keel over into bed, mixing alcohol and antidepressants is a bad idea.