THE HISTORY OF DEPRESSANTS

In times gone by it has been seen that to allay anxiety, induce sleep and relieve stress people of almost every culture have been using chemical agents.  While one of the universal agents used for these purpose is alcohol, other hundreds of substance have been developed, to produce depression in the central nervous system. Such drugs are referred as sedatives, downers, anti-anxiety, minor tranquilizers, hypnotics, and anxiolytics medications. Depressants are rarely produced in clandestine laboratories unlike most other classes of drugs abuse.

Generally products of the pharmaceuticals, which are legitimate, are diverted to the illegal market. Gamma hydroxybutyric acid or GHB is a relatively recent drug.

The two oldest pharmaceutical depressants that are still in use are paraldehyde and choral hydrate. Methaqualone, meprobamate and gluthethimide are some other depressants, which play an equally important part in the use of abuse, and depressant. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are the two major groups of depressants, which have been dominating the market legally, and illegally for nearly a century.

The substances that depress the activities of the central nervous system are depressants. They are also known as “downers” as their effects has the power to hypnotize, tranquilize or sedate. These depressants can be both legal and illegal.