Depressants have been around for centuries and have been depicted in many cultures as far back as 3400 BC. Herbs and alcohol are known to relieve pain and promote sleep; they were the most common depressants. Depressants are medications that reduce neuronal activity and slow down bodily functions, to reduce or alleviate anxiety, induce sleep, and relieve stress (depressants). Alcohol being one of the most popular agents causes central nervous system depression. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are both groups of depressants. These two groups have taken over the market legally and illegally for a very long time. Paraldehyde and chloral hydrate are two older pharmaceutical depressants that are also called sedatives, analgesics, anxiolytics, minor tranquilizers, hypnotics, and anxiolytics ("homemade"). Opium, which comes from the poppy plant, has been used for hundreds of years. This is used as a legitimate depressant medication, after which morphine evolved in 1806. These medications can come from many different plants such as California poppy, lavender, and wild lettuce. They come in the form of multi-colored tablets and capsules or in liquid form, in rare cases - in powder form. They can be swallowed, injected, smoked or snorted. In the depressant category, you will also have Zyprexa, Seroquel and Haldol. Some street names for depressants are beards, candy, downers, redbirds, tropes, yellows, reds, phennies, roofs, yellowjackets, tranks and many others. Large doses can cause impaired memory, judgment and coordination, irritability, paranoia and even suicidal thoughts. Withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, weakness and nausea. For people who continually consume at high doses, agitation, elevated body temperatures, delirium... middle of paper ...... urates to "come down" from the amphetamine high. The fourth group consists mainly of heroin and other narcotics addicts. They use barbiturates as a substitute when other drugs are not available. Sometimes a combination of heroin and barbiturates creates a prolonged effect. Barbiturate abuse is considered much more dangerous than narcotic abuse (“The New International Standard Medical & Health Encyclopedia.”). Another depressant is benzodiazepine, commonly used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and several other conditions. Since this depressant has low toxicity and high effectiveness, it is used in the short-term treatment of anxiety and insomnia problems. Some benzodiazepines approved in the United States are alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), and a few others. The exact mechanism of action of benzodiazepines is not known..