What Is CNS Depression?
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.
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.
The Society for Neuroscience defines opiates as narcotic drugs--derivative from the poppy flower--that can be swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected for a high. Although most notably known for being heroin--this is also the main ingredient in...
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prescription medications such as central nervous system depressants are very effective for reducing anxiety and helping to fight insomnia. While most patients use their medications...
Delsym, or liquid dextromethorphan polistirex, is a cough suppressant used for colds or flu. It should not be used in conditions where cough is chronic or when there is excessive mucus present such with emphysema and asthma. It works by reducing...
Pain is a subjective sensation that affects all aspects of an individual's life. When inadequately treated, pain leads to lost productivity, needless suffering and increased medical costs. For severe or chronic pain, drugs called opioid...
Tramadol HCL is a prescription pain medication classified as an opiate agonist. Although not classified as a narcotic, tramadol has similar properties and acts on the central nervous system. Tramadol also has similar actions to antidepressants,...
Magnesium sulfate is often prescribed to delay labor or treat eclampsia in pregnant women and to manage asthma and cardiac waveforms. Magnesium sulfate is also present in Epsom salt, which is used as a first-aid treatment to soothe irritated skin...
Sodium metabisulfite is a yellowish-colored crystalline powder that emits the smell of sulfur dioxide. This chemical is often used as a preservative, a hair waving agent and as an ensiling agent. It is also used in lotions such as Klaron, which is...
You've probably encountered many products containing sodium metabisulfite without even realizing it. Sodium metabisulfite preserves food and is used extensively in commercial wine making. It is a bleaching agent in the textile, pulp and paper...
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine drug, commonly prepared as the salt hydroxyzine HCl. As a chloride salt, the pharmaceutical is sold under multiple brand names, including Atarax and Tranquizine. Like many antihistamines, hydroxyzine HCl has a...
Cogentin, the drug name for benztropine, is a medication administered to people on antipsychotics as an adjunct therapy to reduce some of the side effects of these medications. Neuroleptic drugs that reduce the symptoms of psychosis sometimes...
Many prescription pain relievers contain chemicals that are related to opium. These narcotic pain relievers are very potent analgesics and can be used to relieve moderate or severe pain. However, because of the nature of these medications, they...
Alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer contain a substance called ethanol that acts as a depressant. At low doses, alcohol ingestion makes the user feel relaxed. As dosage increases, effects include sleepiness, dizziness, loss of motor...
The normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If the heart beats faster or slower or produces erratic rhythms, it causes shortness of breath, loss of consciousness requiring hospitalization, cardiac arrest or even death. The...
The fruit of Schisandra chinensis, also spelled schizandra, is an herbal remedy people use for preventing and treating liver problems, improving heart function, relieving coughing and wheezing and improving exercise performance. The Memorial...
Soma, the brand name of the generic drug carisoprodol, is a muscle relaxer that works by blocking pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. It is a prescription medication used to treat musculoskeletal pain caused by strains, sprains and...
Clonazepam is used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat seizure disorders and panic disorders. Clonazepam belongs to a classification of medications known as benzodiazepines, which have a variety of unwanted side effects. As with all...
Beta blockers are anti-hypertensive drugs used in the treatment of high blood pressure, migraine, angina, cardiac arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarctions and pheochromocytomas. According to Medex, beta blockers are effective treatments for...
Schizandra, also known as schisandra and wu-wei-zu, is native to parts of China and Eastern Russia and is a tree with red globular berries. According to Drugs.com, schisandra has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years and...
Goldenseal roots come from the underground stems of the perennial golden seal tree in the woods of the Ohio River valley, and in other areas of the northern United States. Teas are made from the dried roots. Extracts from the roots are made into...
Sodium pentothal or thiopental sodium is a barbiturate known from spy genre films as the "truth serum." First injected in humans in 1934, it is used to cause drowsiness before surgery or other medical procedures. According to RxList, it may be the...
The liver is the largest gland in the body and the only organ that can regenerate itself. The functions of the liver are vital to life. These functions include the elimination of toxins from the body, metabolism of hormones, conversion of fats to...
Valerian hops is an herbal supplement commonly sold in health food stores. This supplement is used to treat insomnia, anxiety and headaches, according to "Alternative Cures: More than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies." Like many...
Sweating cools the body, but excessive sweating that occurs without the normal triggers such as heat, exercise or sweat, called hyperhidrosis, can cause embarrassment and discomfort. Between 2 and 3 percent of people have primary hyperhidrosis,...
Anxiety often results from stress and can cause feelings of worry or apprehension. It is normal to occasionally have anxious feelings. Anxiety can even help you overcome stressful situations, causing you to find solutions for everyday problems....
Psychotropic effects are those that alter the perception, behavior or mood. Such effects include hallucinations, psychosis and central nervous system depression or stimulation. Dextromethorphan (DM or DXM), a cough suppressant commonly found in...
The celery plant was cultivated in Europe during the Middle Ages and has since been widely used for its culinary and medicinal properties. Celery is used to treat a wide variety of ailments and is taken by some to facilitate weight loss because of...
Schizandra, also spelled schisandra, has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The Chinese call it wu-wei-zi, which translates to "five-flavored fruit" because its taste contains all the basic flavors of salty, sour, bitter and...
Schisandra, often spelled schizandra, is a fruit with a number of fairly well established benefits and many potential benefits that have not been verified by human studies. Claims for schisandra run the gamut from heart health enhancer to sexual...