Depressants

Depressants: Klonopin (Clonazepam)
Definition:
Klonopin is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of seizures and
panic disorder. Klonopin may be used alone or with other medications. It belongs to a
class of drugs called Antianxiety Agents, Anxiolytics, Benzodiazepines, Anticonvulsants,
Benzodiazepine.
Short History:
Clonazepam was patented in 1964 by the Hoffman La Roche company, at a time
when benzodiazepines in general were replacing barbiturates as the sedative drug of
choice. Klonopin became available for medical prescription in 1975 and was first
marketed as a treatment for epileptic seizures.
Like all members of the benzodiazepine family (there are 15 approved
benzodiazepine medications in the US, 200 worldwide), Klonopin builds up tolerance
fairly quickly and has potential for addiction, especially when taken regularly for more
than a few weeks. It is classified as a Schedule IV drug and in 2011, a national study
done in Emergency Departments across the country reported 61,000 people sought
ED treatment for recreational or non-medical use of clonazepam or Klonopin use.
In 2013, Tennessee passed the first U.S. law requiring pharmacies to limit
benzodiazepine dispensing to a 30-day prescription.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the number of deaths from
benzodiazepines overall, increased more the 400% between 2002 and 2015.
Chemical and Scientific Name:

Clonazepam | C15H10ClN3O3
Signs and Symptoms:

Signs of a Klonopin addiction might include:
 Persistent cravings for Klonopin.
 Continued Klonopin use despite negative consequences.
 Having a desire to quit but being unable to do so.
 Losing interest in social or professional obligations.
 Developing legal or financial issues.
Klonopin addiction starts when users build a tolerance to the drug, which means they
need larger doses to get the same effects they once received from smaller doses. Some
users then start taking more than they were prescribed or using the drug just to get
high.
Depressants: Sleeping Pills
Definition:
As the name suggests, sleeping pills help you catch some sleep. People who have sleep
disorders like insomnia may take these medications to help them fall asleep. Sleeping
medicines can also help you stay asleep if you’re prone to waking up in the middle of
the night.
Short History:
chloral hydrate, also called chloral, the first synthetically produced sedative-
hypnotic drug, commonly used in the late 19th century to treat insomnia and still
occasionally used to reduce anxiety or produce sleep before surgery. Chloral hydrate
acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, with sedative effects similar to
those of barbiturates.
Chloral hydrate (trichloroacetaldehyde monohydrate) was first synthesized in

1832, but it was not introduced into medicine until 1869, when Mathias E.O. Liebreich
discovered its effectiveness in inducing sleep. A therapeutic dose produces a deep sleep
lasting four to eight hours with few aftereffects, but habitual use of the drug results in
addiction—a fact quickly noted in the medical literature of the late 19th and the early
20th century. Symptoms of overdose may include deep stupor, dilation of blood vessels,
fall in blood pressure and body temperature, and slowed respiration. In a severe
overdose, death usually occurs within 5 to 10 hours. Chloral hydrate was the primary
ingredient, along with alcohol, of the “knockout drops” or “Mickey Finns” of
popular lore. With the development of safer and more effective drugs, the use of chloral
hydrate has declined. When used, it is administered as gel capsules or rectal
suppositories.
Chemical and Scientific Name:

Hypnotics, Sedatives, or Sleep aids | Melatonin
Signs and Symptoms:

Many people wrongly assume they can’t get addicted to sleeping pills, and some
people even claim to have gotten this information from their doctor. Yet some people
find themselves unable to sleep without the help of a sleeping pill. As tolerance
increases, many find that they need to take larger dosages to obtain the desired effect.
A lot of people don’t realize they’ve become dependent, or possibly addicted, until they
stop taking their medication. They may then begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms,
a telltale sign of both dependence and addiction.
Other signs that sleeping pill use has gotten out of control include:
 Having several failed attempts to quit.
 Getting cravings.
 Seeing more than one doctor for prescription refills.
 Continuing to take the pills despite negative consequences.
Addiction can develop and then manifest in various behaviors, such as when an
individual increases their dose without consulting a physician or exhibits consistent
cravings and desires to use their drug of choice.
Depressants: Benzodiazepines
A type of relieve anxiety and insomnia drug used to (trouble sleeping).
Benzodiazepines are also used to relax muscles and prevent seizures. They increase
the effect of a chemical in the brain called GABA, which is a neurotransmitter (a
substance that nerves use to send messages to one another).
History of Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (BZD, BDZ, BZs), sometimes called "benzos" or "blues", are a
class of psychoactive drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of
a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. As depressants—drugs which lower brain activity
—they are prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. The
first benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), was discovered accidentally by Leo
Sternbach in 1955 and was made available in 1960 by Hoffmann–La Roche, who
soon followed with diazepam (Valium) in 1963. By 1977, benzodiazepines were the
most prescribed medications globally; the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs), among other factors, decreased rates of prescription, but they remain
frequently used worldwide.
Chemical and Scientific Name: “Diazepam”
Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepines
A. Behavioral Symptoms:
 Drug-seeking behaviors
 Doctor shopping, or visiting a number of doctors to obtain more prescriptions
 Benzodiazepines taken in larger doses than intended; for longer time than
intended
 Forging prescriptions
 Increasing desire to be left alone
 Inability to meet expectations and responsibilities at work, school, or home
B. Physical Symptoms:
Increased respiratory infections
 Physical dependence
 Double vision
 Muscle weakness
 Vertigo
 Headaches
 Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
C. Cognitive Symptoms:
 Memory impairment
 Anterograde amnesia
 Increased confusion
 Slowed thinking
 Slowed reaction time
D. Psychosocial Symptoms:
 Increased anxiety
 Irritability and hostility
 Depression
 Mood swings

Depressants

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Depressants

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Depressants: Klonopin (Clonazepam)

Chemical and Scientific Name:

Signs and Symptoms:

Chloral hydrate (trichloroacetaldehyde monohydrate) was first synthesized in

Chemical and Scientific Name:

Signs and Symptoms:

Chemical and Scientific Name: “Diazepam”

Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepines

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