Q: What are tranquilizers?
A: Tranquilizers are a group of drugs that are used to treat medical conditions such as severe anxiety, stress disorders and muscle tension.
Q: So are sleeping pills tranquilizers?
A: Most sleeping pills prescribed these days have the same chemical make up as tranquilizers. Medically speaking, drugs used to calm people are known as tranquilizers and those used to treat sleeping problems are called sleeping pills. Some of the most commonly prescribed tranquilizers are Valium®, Librium®, Ativan®, and Serax®. Some common sleeping pills include Dalmane®, Halcion®, Restoril® and Mogadon®.
However, some sleeping pills are not classified as tranquilizers, they are barbiturates.
Q: What do tranquilizers and sleeping pills do to the body?
A: Both tranquilizers and sleeping pills are known as depressants. This means they reduce the amount of activity in the brain and central nervous system. The reduced activity produces a sense of calm and well–being, which is why tranquilizers are used to treat anxiety.
Sleeping pills reduce the amount of activity in the brain further than tranquilizers. This larger reduction eventually causes users to fall asleep.
Q: What are some other effects of tranquilizers and sleeping pills?
A: Tranquilizers and sleeping pills can relax people to the point where they get clumsy and have trouble thinking straight. Remember, sleeping pills make people very tired, which means it is dangerous for people to drive a car when taking sleeping pills or tranquilizers.
Q: Is it dangerous to take other drugs with tranquilizers and sleeping pills?
A: Remember that mixing two kinds of any drugs is always risky. With tranquilizers and sleeping pills, a big danger comes when they are taken with alcohol. The danger comes from the fact that both alcohol and tranquilizers/sleeping pills have similar effects on the body. Both reduce the amount of activity in the central nervous system. If someone drinks alcohol and takes a tranquilizer or a sleeping pill, the amount of activity in their nervous system will be greatly reduced. This can lead to death.
Q: Are tranquilizers and sleeping pills addictive?
A: People do develop tolerance to tranquilizers and sleeping pills. This means they need to take more of them in order to feel the same effects they used to feel after taking smaller amounts. Tolerance can lead to abuse and dependence on tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
When people who are dependent on tranquilizers and sleeping pills suddenly stop taking them, they can go through withdrawal. Besides craving the drugs, they can experience sleep problems, restlessness, loss of appetite and the shakes.
© Watari Youth Day Treatment Program
Adapted from 2001-2002 AADAC – Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, corp.aadac.com
Additional Source Uppers, Downers, All Arounders