Depressants work by decreasing activity in the central nervous system, which produces a calming effect. These prescription medications work by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. While people abuse depressants for the relaxation effects, doctors originally prescribed them for specific medical conditions. Even when patients use depressants for a medical condition, it is on a short-term basis to prevent addiction.
Anxiety
Doctors may prescribe depressants for certain anxiety disorders. When a person has anxiety, she has worry that she cannot control. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms, such as sweating, tremors, racing heartbeat and dizziness. Patients can also have fatigue, decreased concentration and irritability. Depressants cause a relaxing or sedative effect that reduces the symptoms of anxiety. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America explains that benzodiazepines, a type of depressant, treat panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Florida State University adds that barbiturates, another classification of depressants, treat anxiety. Another type of depressant, meprobamate, also treats anxiety.
Sleep Disorders
People who have problems sleeping may take depressants. For example, if a patient has insomnia, he can have problems either falling asleep at night or staying asleep. Both problems cause the patient to have a poor quality of sleep. The sedative effects of depressants help patients fall sleep. Florida State University points out that both benzodiazepines and barbiturates can treat sleep disorders. In particular, benzodiazepines with stronger sedative effects, such as estazolam and triazolam, help with problems sleeping.
Relax Muscles
The calming effects created by depressants can affect other areas of the body. As a result, the Nemours Foundation notes that depressants can relax muscles, which can help with problems like muscle contractions. The medications can also help with muscle spasms. Both barbiturates and benzodiazepines cause muscles to relax and relieve tension. The US Drug Enforcement Administration points out that carisoprodol, which is metabolized from meprobamate, acts as a muscle relaxant.
Preoperative Sedation
When a person needs surgery, a doctor may give her a preoperative sedative so she sleeps during the surgery. The US Drug Enforcement Administration explains that for this use the doctor may give a barbiturate with a stronger sedative effect, such as pentobarbital.
Seizures
When a person has a seizure, the electrical activity in the brain becomes disrupted, affecting the brain's normal functioning. As a result, patients may lose consciousness or have changes in muscle movements. Certain depressants can act as anticonvulsants. The US Drug Enforcement Administration lists clorazepate, a benzodiazepine, and phenobarbital and mephobarbital, which are barbiturates, as depressants that treat seizures.
