Barbiturates and Tranquilizers act as a depressant to the central nervous system and are used to calm, induce sleep, or decrease anxiety. In other words, they slow down the bodies functions. There are two types of tranquilizers. Major tranquilizers, known as "anti-psychotics", are used for the treatment of mental illness. Minor tranquilizers are used to decrease anxiety as well as induce sleep.

Cost

unknown

Street Names

Barbiturate names: tuinal, seconal, nembutal, barbs, downers, blues, reds, sekkies, sleeping pills, sleepers, amytal, seonal, goof balls, christmas trees.

Tranquiliser names: valium, librium, ativan, tranx, downers, benzos, eggs, jellies, temazepam, mogadon.

Methods of Consumption

Barbiturates can come in pills, powdered form or liquid but are usually sold in colored capsules, which are easily swallowed. They are also available as ampoules, suppositories or syrup.

Consequences & Associated Risks

Barbiturates use can lead quickly to dependence where sudden withdrawal from high doses can result in death. Overdosing is an easy mistake caused by just a few extra tablets as a normal dose is very close to a lethal dose. They are also very dangerous when mixed with alcohol.

Tranquillizer user can also quickly lead to dependence and can cause convulsions. When mixed with alcohol, may cause a coma and death, overdose is a very real threat. Tolerance can develop quickly so larger doses are needed to get the same effects. Withdrawal from regular use can lead to anxiety, nausea and confusion.

Side effects of continued use are skin rashes, nausea, dizziness, increases in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature, heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure. If used curing pregnancy can lead to cleft lip and/or palate

Effects

Both barbiturates and tranquillizers have similar effects of calming and anziety reduction, leading to sleep in small doses. With larger doses, a drunken effect ensues (slurred speech, clumsiness and unconsciousness). Tranquilizers disrupt the psycho-motor, intellectual, and perceptual functions. This drug accumulates in the body tissue after prolonged use.

Benefits

Today barbiturates are infrequently used as anticonvulsants and for the induction of anesthesia, they have been replaced by Benzodiazepines.

Once its effects dissipate, how do you feel?

Withdraw leads to a person feeling irritable, nervous, sick, delirium, sleeplessness, twitching, sweating and stomach pain