There are numerous drugs that can be formally prescribed by a physician or psychiatrist to alleviate the symptoms that damage the patient’s physical or mental health, and when they are used against the recommendations of medical professionals, the consequences are often hard to predict. Depressants and amphetamines have different qualities but there is an obvious similarity – they are highly addictive, and every doctor must warn their patients about the side effects of these medications as well as the legal repercussions a person faces when they obtain these substances illegally.
Let us explore amphetamines and depressants – in this article we will take a look at how these drugs change the physical and mental state of the person and how they are used in treatment.
How Depressants Affect the Central Nervous System
Depressants reduce stimulation and arousal – they affect your brain and central nervous system by slowing down the communication between your brain neurons. After the depressant is taken, a person no longer feels pain or their pain is reduced, they feel drowsy, and their whole body is in a state of intense relaxation.
Regardless of these benefits, there are downsides you must take into account before you take a depressant. Your concentration and coordination will take a hit – your reaction time is much slower when a depressant is in your system. Besides, depressants cannot be mixed with alcohol – it is considered a depressant as well – and other prescription medications such as opioids and antipsychotics.
The Stimulatory Effects of Amphetamines
Amphetamines speed up all the processes in the human body – they trigger the release of neurotransmitters that make you feel more awake, alert, focused, motivated, and even hungry. Amphetamines are often prescribed to help patients with hyperactivity and obesity but sadly, there are also illicit drugs like methamphetamine – it is manufactured illegally, and the side effects the users experience are even more dangerous than treatable withdrawal or overdose.
Make sure you obtain amphetamines legally and use them after getting formal permission from your physician or psychiatrist – these drugs are often used and abused by athletes who want to enhance their performance and individuals who get access to amphetamines for recreational purposes and become addicted to them.
Comparing the Physical and Psychological Effects
Amphetamines and depressants have very different effects on the person – while patients who take amphetamines will breathe faster and experience the joys of heightened focus, albeit temporarily, people who take depressants have a decreased heart rate and they feel sleepy and relaxed. Experienced medical professionals will not hesitate to prescribe both of these drugs due to their positive impact on a person’s body and psyche.
Even though the main purpose of depressants is sedation and amphetamines are used to stimulate the person’s body and brain, there is a similarity these substances share. It is very easy to get addicted to these drugs, experience severe withdrawal when you no longer have access to your medication, and even overdose.
Drug interactions make the process of treatment even more challenging, and a person who is taking drugs to cope with anxiety and depression is warned to stay away from alcohol. Be certain you can take a specific depressant or amphetamine with minimal side effects – get in touch with your doctor and ask them what is advisable and what is dangerous.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of Depressants
It is important to evaluate the side effects of depressants when the person is undergoing treatment – let us take a look at what a patient may expect:
| Side Effect | Description |
| Extreme Fatigue | Tiredness, depressive episodes, and insomnia are not uncommon – despite the diminished anxiety that is supposed to be one of the key advantages of depressants, some people react differently to these drugs |
| Blurred Vision | Many patients have reported problems with vision – combined with poor concentration, it is dangerous for a person with a large dose of depressant in their system to drive or operate heavy machinery |
| Confused Behavior | You will notice that you cannot think clearly when depressants do their job – moreover, the disorientation is so severe sometimes that a person who is tired and sedated just falls asleep without planning to |
| Overdose | This is most definitely the biggest risk associated with depressant use. A doctor will tell you more about the symptoms of overdose but make sure you seek emergency assistance if your breathing slows down and you cannot control your vomiting after taking your prescription medication |
Safety Concerns and Risks of Amphetamine Use
There are side effects related to the use of amphetamines – the list below contains the most common adverse effects:
| Side Effect | Description |
| Cognitive Decline | Cognitive impairment is an unfortunate consequence of prolonged amphetamine use – there are memory problems, lack of focus, and poor decision-making when you rely on amphetamines to function daily |
| Insomnia | Sleep disturbances are often triggered by amphetamines – an individual lays in bed for hours unable to sleep or wakes up earlier than planned and cannot fall asleep again which affects their energy levels throughout the day |
| Mood Swings | Emotional dysregulation is hard to cope with, especially if you are trying to build lasting and meaningful relationships with other people – the individuals who surround you will need to make peace with your mood fluctuations caused by amphetamine use |
| Rapid and Illogical Speech | A person who uses and abuses amphetamines will talk very fast – there are rarely any pauses in their speech, and it is hard to figure out what they are talking about in the first place |
Therapeutic Uses of Depressants and Amphetamines
There are different depressants that have positive effects on a person’s health – for example, antihistamines fall under the category of depressants, and their main goal is to help an individual deal with severe allergies. Despite that, the negative effects may occur as well – if you are taking a drug to cope with your allergy, be prepared to feel more sleepy and tired than usual.
Amphetamines are less common than depressants but there are some medications that have been found very effective. For example, dextroamphetamine is manufactured legally and approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a valuable tool to treat narcolepsy. So, do not be surprised when your doctor prescribes amphetamines – some of them are completely legal and can significantly improve your health.
Get Help Today at Bakersfield Recovery Center
Whether you have been taking depressants or amphetamines, these substances are addictive and may lead to all kinds of unpleasant consequences including addiction and accidental overdose. No matter how long you have been struggling with substance abuse, recovery and sobriety are possible if you are prepared to put in the effort. Reach out to Bakersfield Recovery Center today – we can help you rebuild your life and maintain lasting sobriety to ensure your safety in the future.
FAQs
What are depressants and why are they known as downers in relation to the central nervous system?
Depressants are often called downers – as opposed to uppers which stimulate the central nervous system, downers depress it alongside the brain. Your pulse will slow down, you will no longer deal with the shortness of breath, your blood pressure will stabilize, and you will feel relaxed and sleepy due to the effectiveness of depressants for people with anxiety and stress.
How do sedatives induce relaxation compared to the euphoria and excitement caused by stimulants like amphetamines?
While amphetamines give the person the alertness and energy they have been missing which boosts their mood, sedatives are meant to relax the individual, calm them down when they are in a stressful situation, and help them fall asleep.
Why are amphetamines associated with increased alertness, while depressants can lead to fatigue?
Alertness and fatigue are very common side effects of these drugs respectively. Amphetamines replenish your energy and make you more confident, clear-minded, and sociable while depressants will slow down the messages between your body and brain so chronic tiredness becomes one of the most difficult adverse effects to manage even if you do not increase the dosage.
In what ways do central nervous system depressants differ from stimulants in their effects on mood and energy levels?
Tiredness, drowsiness, and nausea frequently occur when a person is taking depressants – the sedative effect of these drugs cannot be doubted or underestimated especially when you need to drive the car or carry out a task that requires full concentration. Due to low energy and slowed brain function, you will not be able to fulfill certain obligations despite the fact that anxiety is no longer your primary concern.
What are the common uses of depressants in promoting relaxation and reducing excitement or euphoria?
Depressants are a great solution if a patient has chronic anxiety, panic disorder, or sleep disorder – they are prescribed to relax the muscles of the individual and calm their nerves. If one of the symptoms of your mental health disorder is euphoria or you are struggling with random mood fluctuations, depressants will help you stabilize your mood and avoid bursts of excitement if they are typically followed by depressive episodes.
