Tranquilizing drugs slow normal brain function. For that reason, they are often referred to as depressants. These kinds of drugs work by affecting the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that help brain cells communicate with one another by spreading nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. The higher the level of GABA activity in the brain, the greater the calming effect produced. Tranquilizers are prescribed by doctors only and are usually dispensed as pills or capsules. Some types come in liquid or solution form.
Because tranquilizers slow down normal brain activity and produce a calming or drowsy effect, they are among the most common drugs prescribed to patients suffering from insomnia. Insomniacs are patients who either have trouble falling asleep or cannot fall asleep at all. Tranquilizers are also prescribed to patients diagnosed with anxiety, a type of mental disorder that causes extreme restlessness, uncontrollable feelings of fear, excessive worrying, and panic attacks. According to Jim Parker in Tranx: Minor Tranquilizers, Major Problems, about 70 million prescriptions for tranquilizers are written each year in the United States. Tranquilizers are also among the most commonly abused medications. In 2005, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University released a 214-page report titled "Under the Counter: The Diversion and Abuse of Controlled Prescription Drugs in the U.S." That report indicates that in 2003 nearly 6 million Americans abused prescription tranquilizers and sedatives.
Official Drug Name: Major tranquilizers: aripiprazole (ah-rih-PIP-rah-zole; Abilify); chlorpromazine (klorr-PROH-mah-zeen; Thorazine); clozapine (CLAW-zuh-peen; Clozaril); fluphenazine (flu-FENNuh-zeen; Permitil, Prolixin); haloperidol (hal-oh-PEH-rih-dawl; Haldol); loxapine (LOK-suh-peen; Daxolin, Loxitane); mesoridazine (meh-zoh-RY-duh-zeen; Serentil); olanzapine (oh-LANN-zuh-peen; Zyprexa); perphenazine (per-FENN-uhzeen; Trilafon); pimozide (PIMM-oh-zide; Orap); quetiapine (kweh-TY-uh-peen; Seroquel); risperidone (rih-SPER-ih-doan; Risperdal); thioridazine (thy-oh-RY-duh-zeen; Mellaril); thiothixene (thy-oh-THIK-seen; Navane); trifluoperazine (try-FLU-oh-PERR-uh-zeen; Stelazine); triflupromazine (try-flu-PROH-muh-zeen; Vesprin); ziprasidone (zih-PRAY-zih-don; Geodon)
Also Known As: Antipsychotics, neuroleptics
Drug Classifications: Major tranquilizers; not scheduled
Official Drug Name: Minor tranquilizers (benzodiazepines): alprazolam (al-PRAZZ-oh-lam; Xanax); chlordiazepoxide (klor-dye-az-uh-POKS-ide; Librium); clonazepam (kloh-NAZZ-uh-pam; Klonopin); clorazepate (klor-AZZ-uh-pate; Tranxene); diazepam (dye-AZZ-uh-pam; Valium); estazolam (ess-TAH-zoh-lam; ProSom); flunitrazepam (flu-nih-TRAZ-uh-pam; Rohypnol); flurazepam (flor-AZZ-uh-pam; Dalmane); halazepam (huh-LAZZ-uh-pam; Paxipam); lorazepam (lorr-AZZ-uh-pam; Ativan); midazolam (my-DAY-zoh-lam; Versed); oxazepam (oks-AZZ-uh-pam; Serax); prazepam (PRAZZ-uh-pam; Centrax); quazepam (KWAY-zuh-pam; Doral); temazepam (tuh-MAZZ-uh-pam; Restoril); triazolam (try-AY-zoe-lam; Halcion)
Also Known As: Anxiolytics (ANG-zee-oh-LIH-tiks), benzos, BZDs, downers, goofballs, happy pills, sedative-hypnotics, tranks, tranx
Drug Classifications: Benzodiazepines: Schedule IV (except for flunitrazepam, which as of 2005 was a Schedule III drug; change in status to Schedule I possible, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration); depressants
Official Drug Name: Minor tranquilizers (nonbenzodiazepines): buspirone (byoo-SPY-rone; BuSpar); zaleplon (ZAH-leh-plon; Sonata); zolpidem (zole-PIE-dem; Ambien)
Also Known As: Anxiolytics, sedative-hypnotics, tranks, tranx
Drug Classifications: Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics: buspirone, not scheduled; zaleplon and zolpidem, both Schedule IV, depressants
Official Drug Name: Minor tranquilizers (barbiturates): amobarbital (AMM-oh-BAR-bit-al; Amytal); butabarbital (BYOOT-uh-BAR-bit-al; Butisol); butalbital (byoo-TAHL-bit-al; Fioricet and Fiorinal); mephobarbital (MEFF-oh-BAR-bital; Mebaral); methohexital (meh-thoh-HEK-sih-tal; Brevital); pentobarbital (PENT-oh-BAR-bit-al; Nembutal); phenobarbital (FEEN-oh-BAR-bit-al; Luminal); secobarbital (SEK-oh-BAR-bit-al; Seconal)
Also Known As: Amys, anxiolytics, barbs, blues, downers, rainbows, red devils, sedative-hypnotics, tranks, tranx, yellow jackets
Drug Classifications: Barbiturates: amobarbital, pentobarbital, and secobarbital, all Schedule II, depressants; butabarbital and butalbital, both Schedule III, depressants; mephobarbital, methohexital, and phenobarbital, all Schedule IV, depressants
Official Drug Name: Minor tranquilizers (nonbarbiturate sedative-hypnotics): chloral hydrate (KLORR-uhl HIGH-drate; Aquachloral Supprettes, Noctec); ethchlorvynol (eth-KLORR-vih-nol; Placidyl); glutethimide (glue-TEH-thuh-mide; Doriden); meprobamate (meh-proe-BAM-Mate; Miltown, Equanil); methaqualone (meth-a-KWAY-lone; Quaalude); methyprylon (meth-ih-PRY-lon; Noludar)
Also Known As: Anxiolytics, ludes, sedative-hypnotics, sopors, tranks, tranx
Drug Classifications: Nonbarbiturate sedative-hypnotics: methaqualone, Schedule I, depressant; glutethimide, Schedule II, depressant; methyprylon, Schedule III, depressant; chloral hydrate, ethchlorvynol, and meprobamate, all Schedule IV, depressants
Official Drug Name: Herbals: Rauwolfia serpentina (row-WOLF-ee-uh SER-penn-TEEN-uh; active ingredient in reserpine [Serpasil]); Valeriana officinalis
Also Known As: Indian snakeroot (for Rauwolfia); valerian
Drug Classifications: Not scheduled; dietary supplements
