Commonly Abused Prescription Medications- CNS Depressants

Many people don’t realize that many prescription medications, if abused, can become addictive.

Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab GA, comments, “One particular type of prescription medication that has chilling effects if abused is the CNS depressant type. CNS stands for Central Nervous System; these drugs slow brain functions and affect the nervous system.

“Drug addiction to these prescription drugs can be deadly, if one tries to withdraw cold-turkey from them. Clients coming into the Narconon Drug Rehab who have abused Xanax or Valium may have to be medically withdrawn before they are stable.

“Teens will abuse medications in the family medicine cabinet, in many cases mixing drugs, legal and illegal. This is very dangerous. Having a drug addiction that started with popping a few Valium or Xanax pills left over from an old prescription is not a way to start a young life.

“Be aware of your child’s activities and lock these medications up.”

What are CNS Depressants?

CNS depressants (e.g., tranquilizers, sedatives) slow normal brain function. In higher doses, some CNS depressants can be used as general anesthetics or pre-anesthetics.
 
CNS depressants can be divided into three groups, based on their chemistry and pharmacology:

• Barbiturates, such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) and sodium pentobarbital (Nembutal), are used as preanesthetics, promoting sleep.
• Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and estazolam (ProSom), can be prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, panic attacks, convulsions, and sleep disorders. For the latter, benzodiazepines are usually prescribed only for short-term relief of sleep problems because of the development of tolerance and risk of drug addiction.
• Newer sleep medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta), are now more commonly prescribed to treat sleep disorders.

How are CNS Depressants abused?

CNS depressants are usually taken orally, sometimes in combination with other drugs or to counteract the effects of other licit or illicit drugs (e.g., stimulants).

How do CNS Depressants Affect the Brain?

Most of the CNS depressants have similar actions in the brain—they enhance the actions of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that facilitate communication between brain cells. GABA works by decreasing brain activity. Although different classes of CNS depressants work in unique ways, it is ultimately their ability to increase GABA activity that produces a drowsy or calming effect.

What Adverse Effects Can Be Associated with CNS Depressants?

Despite their beneficial effects for people suffering from anxiety or sleep disorders, barbiturates and benzodiazepines can be addictive and should be used only as prescribed.
CNS depressants should not be combined with any medication or substance that causes drowsiness, including prescription pain medicines, certain OTC cold and allergy medications, or alcohol. If combined, they can slow both the heart and respiration, which can be fatal.

What Happens When You Stop Taking CNS Depressants?

Discontinuing prolonged use or abuse of high doses of CNS depressants can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. Because it works by slowing the brain’s activity, when one stops taking a CNS depressant, this activity can rebound to the point that seizures can occur. Someone who is either thinking about ending their use of a CNS depressant, or who has stopped and is suffering withdrawal, should seek medical treatment.

Are there Treatments for Addiction to CNS Depressants?

In addition to medical supervision during withdrawal, counseling in an inpatient or outpatient setting can help people who are overcoming addiction to CNS depressants.

What are the Trends in the Abuse of CNS Depressants?

CNS Depressants. Nonmedical use of tranquilizers (benzodiazepines and others) has remained stable for all three grades in all prevalence periods (lifetime, past-year, and past-month use).  Almost 2.4% of 8th graders had abused depressants in 2007, with this number rising to 5.3% of 10th graders, and up to 6.2% of 12th graders.

Source: NIDA

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