Addiction is a physical and psychological dependence on certain substances or prescription medication. An individual who struggles with addiction has a difficult time controlling the amount of the substance he uses even if the addiction effects...
Alprazolam is an antianxiety medication sold under the brand names Niravam, Xanax and Xanax XR. Like other benzodiazepines, alprazolam is FDA-approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety associated with depression, panic...
About 40 million adults age 18 and older have an anxiety disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and...
Depressants are substances that slow down normal function of the central nervous system. They include barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Alcohol and marijuana are also described as depressants. Barbiturates are prescribed as sedatives under the...
The Office of National Drug Control Policy explains that detox "is a process whereby individuals are systematically withdrawn from addicting drugs." Drug addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is characterized by an...
The most common therapeutic drugs that cause withdrawal symptoms include barbiturates, benzodiazepines and opioids such as oxycodone. Other drugs that cause withdrawal symptoms include heroin, nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine,...
Abuse of any type of drug, regardless of whether the drug is legal or illegal, can have an effect on the nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerve fibers and specialized nerve cells throughout the body. Drugs...
Buprenorphine is a prescription drug used for pain management and addiction treatment. Like most other medications, buprenorphine can cause harmful interactions when combined with certain substances. Taking buprenorphine with grapefruit juice...
Seizures can make their first appearance in adulthood. Alternatively, an adult may have had a seizure disorder since childhood or adolescence. Epilepsy, which is chronic recurrent seizure disorder, is usually idiopathic, meaning there is no known...
Drug withdrawal occurs when the use of a drug is stopped after a prolonged period of time. Symptoms vary for different drugs and may include gastrointestinal upset, widespread pain and psychological symptoms such as anxiety and low mood. There...
Kava-kava, or Piper methysticum, is an herbal supplement from the pepper family. It is often consumed for its sedating properties, which are somewhat similar to alcohol. Kava has also been used traditionally as a topical pain reliever for burns...
People who build up a tolerance to a drug develop drug dependence. They face the difficulty of going through withdrawal symptoms when abruptly stopping use of the drug. Drug dependence can result from abuse of illicit drugs or prescription...
With its lightly sweet aroma and tart flavor, pineapple is a nutritious snack packed with vitamin C. The aromatic fruit can be skewered onto a fruit kabob, blended into a smoothie or grilled and used to top a decadent dessert. But if you are...
Stimulants are drugs that speed mental and physical functioning. They may be used to treat medical conditions like attention-deficit disorder or narcolepsy and are sometimes used illicitly for recreational purposes. Depressants are essentially...
Benzodiazepines are common medications that include diazepam, brand name Valium, and lorazepam, or Ativan. They belong to the sedative-hypnotic medication category, and physicians prescribe them for anxiety, restlessness and insomnia, along with...
Alcohol detoxification is the process during which patients with an addiction to alcohol have time to get the alcohol out of their system. Because alcohol abuse can lead to dependence, many patients going through an alcohol detoxification program...
Benzodiazepines, including alprazolam (Xanax), temazepam (Nocturne), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan), treat symptoms associated with anxiety and seizure disorders. Like alcohol, the drugs work by augmenting the function of the brain...
Dizziness is a medical problem in which people feel lightheaded and unsteady on their feet. The Mayo Clinic states that dizziness is the most common reason adults see a physician. It says that specific symptoms include wooziness, faintness,...
Xanax is a prescription anti-anxiety medication marketed by Pfizer Inc. also sold in generic form under its chemical name, alprazolam. Classified as a benzodiazepine central nervous system depressant, Xanax comes with a warning label against...
People who develop an addiction or dependency on alcohol may have a difficult time quitting and abstaining from drinking long-term. Physical withdrawal effects and psychological dependence symptoms such as intense cravings for alcohol can make...
The worst types of drugs are those that cause the most harm. Research conducted by D. Nutt and published in Lancet in 2007, classified drugs by three factors that together determine harm, namely physical harm to the user caused by the drug,...
Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by a person's dependence on alcohol, according to Medical News Today. Alcoholism affects physical and mental health. Depending on the level of addiction, a person might need medical supervision to...
Anxiety is a state of excessive, irrational fear and nervousness. It can manifest in many different forms, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), social anxiety, phobias and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While there are medications...
Drug withdrawal is usually treated with a combination of medications and psychological methods. The type of medication used depends on the type of drug to which the person is addicted. The two most common types of withdrawal treated in a hospital...
A patient with an anxiety disorder has uncontrollable worry, which can cause a racing heart, rapid breathing and chest pain. The severity and frequency of symptoms interfere in the patient's life and can make it difficult to function. Medications,...
Memory for particular events, people or places develops over three distinct stages: acquisition, consolidation and retrieval. Drugs that cause amnesia typically do so by interfering with the initial acquisition and consolidation stages, where...
The central nervous system controls much of the body, including vital activities such as breathing and keeping the heart beating. Depression describes unusually low activity in the CNS, or central nervous system.
Benzodiazepines are categorized as "sedative-hypnotics," due to their ability to calm down overly-excited, anxious patients, as well as help patients feel drowsy and fall asleep. They are used medically to treat anxiety and insomnia, but may also...
