CNS Depression: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Fortunately, the withdrawal symptoms can be suppressed by safer sedative-hypnotic drugs like benzodiazepines. Now that we have covered stimulants, it is time to move on to drugs that have opposing effects. In this chapter, we will examine a variety of depressants and learn about how they alter neurotransmission to reduce the activity of the central nervous system.

Other Factors That Affect CNS Depression

People with severe and enduring mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, are at least three times as likely to be alcohol dependent as the general population. Several strains of rodents have been bred to be sensitive to ethanol, and there appears to be a GABAergic component underlying this trait. For example, long sleep (LS) and short sleep (SS) mice are strains that were selectively bred on the basis of the duration of sleep induced by acute exposure to ethanol. In a line of alcohol non-tolerant (ANT) rats, GABAA receptors are highly sensitive to allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors such as benzodiazepines.

These chemical changes increase susceptibility to depression, making it more likely for individuals with heavy drinking habits to develop mental health issues. Studies reveal that heavy drinkers experience much more signs of depression and anxiety, highlighting the powerful connection between alcohol-induced brain changes and emotional health. Interventions are about providing information and support to the person struggling with alcohol and/or depressant abuse. This includes finding and explaining a potential plan for treatment. Friends and family members should research detox and rehabilitation facilities beforehand, including those that specialize in treating polydrug abuse, alcohol withdrawal, and prescription drug abuse.

1. This condition can have a negative effect on health, relationships, and emotional well-being.
2. Alcohol, or more specifically, ethanol, produces several effects in humans.
3. Alcohol (ethanol) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant drug that, depending on its blood concentration, can induce various manifestations such as relief from anxiety, disinhibition, ataxia, and general anesthesia.
4. The cycle of alcoholism and depression is not permanent, but it requires a holistic and integrated treatment approach to overcome.

Benzodiazepines are used for sedation, antianxiety, and anticonvulsant effects. Lorazepam injection is indicated for the treatment of status epilepticus. It may also be used in adult patients for preanesthetic medication to produce sedation (sleepiness or drowsiness), relieve anxiety, and decrease the ability to recall events related to the day of surgery. Now let’s take a closer look at the medication grid for phenobarbital in Table 8.5a.3 Medication grids are intended to assist students to learn key points about each medication class. Basic information related to a common generic medication in this class is outlined, including administration considerations, therapeutic effects, and side effects/adverse effects.

Substances

If you are on CNS depressants and suspect it’s making you more lethargic than you should be, don’t stop it until you speak to your doctor. Suddenly stopping the medication could result in more harm than good. Sometimes these effects can be mild, but they can also be severe and potentially dangerous. Disulfiram inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, one of the enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism, which converts acetaldehyde to acetic acid.31,32 Administration of disulfiram in the absence of alcohol has little or no effect. A common mode of nitrous oxide recreational use is inhalation or collection of the gas from cooking sprays and whipped cream canisters that use nitrous oxide as the propellant.

One potential explanation for this trend is that physicians perceive these medications to be lower risk than benzodiazepines and may be more inclined to prescribe them (Siriwardena et al., 2006; Hoffmann, 2013). Participants who reported having taken any prescription medications in the past 30 days were asked to show their medication containers to the interviewer, who entered the product name in the computer. NHANES interviewers are instructed to encourage reluctant participants to show their medication containers by explaining that collecting accurate medication information is critical for monitoring the health of the United States. Participants who refuse to provide physical containers are asked to verbally report their medication use instead (16.7% of respondents).

The primary binding site, also known as the orthosteric site, is where GABA normally binds to the receptor. The classical GABAA receptor is part of what is called the GABAA chloride channel receptor complex. The amount of alcohol a person consumes affects them more than the type of alcohol they drink. People may develop an addiction to alcohol after using it to cope with stress or traumatic life events. Addressing emotional or mental health concerns can help people with AUD find ways to cope that do not involve alcohol. The type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, or ethyl alcohol.

If you’re concerned about your usage, talk to your doctor about how to taper off safely. Drinking can be harmful to anyone, regardless of their susceptibility to alcohol misuse or dependence. Therefore, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding excessive drinking, whenever possible, including binge drinking, heavy drinking, or drinking if you’re pregnant or younger than 21 years old. 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). Drinking too much can lead to alcohol poisoning, respiratory failure, coma, or death.

This, in turn, impedes its ability to be reabsorbed from the renal tubules back into the circulation. Thus, the excessive barbiturate in the body is eliminated in the urine. This is exactly the opposite from how to treat an overdose with a weak base such as amphetamine.

II. Part 2. Stimulants and Depressants

The system shuts down the delivery of nitrous oxide if the oxygen content falls below 30% (the concentration of oxygen in room air is 21%). Another safeguard for nitrous oxide use is scavenging systems to remove nitrous oxide from the air and prevent toxicity in patients and dental staff. The vapors in inhalants compete with oxygen, which means users of inhalants may have a low oxygen supply. Coupled with slowed breathing or respiratory failure, this may result in a delayed death.

They’ll decide if you need to be taken off the medication, switched to another form of the medication, or if your dosage needs to be adjusted. These substances are referred to as CNS depressants because they affect the activity of your CNS. Another major cause of CNS depression in people who have no history of using CNS depressants is brain injury. If your doctor suspects that a brain injury or tumor is the cause of your depression, they might order a CT jim carrey fetal alcohol syndrome scan, an MRI scan, or both. CNS depression is a form of depression caused by the misuse of CNS depressants.