What Is Central Nervous System (CNS) Depression?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow CNS Depression Works?SymptomsHow CNS Depression Is DiagnosedWhat Causes CNS Depression?Treatment for CNS DepressionWhen to Seek Help for CNS Depression

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How CNS Depression Works?

Symptoms

How CNS Depression Is Diagnosed

What Causes CNS Depression?

Treatment for CNS Depression

When to Seek Help for CNS Depression

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Some common examples include opioids, sedatives, and hypnotics. These drugs are used to treat pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and stress. Yourcentral nervous systemis made up of your brain and spinal cord and controls functions like your blood circulation and digestion.

At a Glance

CNS depression varies in severity. Sometimes these effects can be mild, but they can also be severe and potentially dangerous.

You might experience mild CNS depression from the prescribed use of CNS depressants or severe CNS depression from the misuse of CNS depressants, traumatic brain injury, or certain other conditions.

Symptoms of Central Nervous System Depression

People living with CNS depression experience varying symptoms; two people living with the condition might not have the same ones. Some of the most common but mild symptoms that help identify the condition include:

In situations where the condition has progressed in severity, a person will experience more severe symptoms, some of which include:

How Depressants Affect Your Body

People using central nervous system depressants might sometimes experience mild depression as a side effect. This would typically go away when you stop using the medication or when your body adjusts to the medication.

Before a diagnosis of CNS depression can be made, your doctor will need to examine your medical history and conduct a series of tests. If you have recently been prescribed CNS depressants ormisusedany CNS depressants, this will be the most likely culprit.

Another major cause of CNS depression in people who have no history of using CNS depressants isbrain injury. If your doctor suspects that a brain injury or tumor is the cause of your depression, they might order a CT scan, an MRI scan, or both.

Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants

The misuse of certain substances causes CNS depression. These substances are referred to as CNS depressants because they affect the activity of your CNS.

Opioids

Opioids are strong pain relievers that are obtained fromopiateslike heroin and oxycodone. They have a high risk of becoming addictive, which is why they are often prescribed in small doses for only short periods.

Opioids are often misusedand used recreationally, making them one of the leading causes of CNS depression. Some common types of opioids typically prescribed for severe pain include Vicodin and Percocet.

Alcohol

Although many people don’t think ofalcohol as a drug, it’s one of the most common and often abused drugs in the world today. Alcohol abuse can lead to addiction and CNS depression.

Barbiturates

Barbituratesare drugs typically used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Some of the most common types include Luminal, Amytal, and Nembutal.

Barbiturates are powerful medications, and over time medical professionals have shifted from using them to treat anxiety and sleep disorders to being used as anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medications).

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, also known as Benzos, are also used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, although they are consideredless addictive than barbiturates. Xanax, Valium, and Prosom are some of the most common types of Benzodiazepines.

Sleeping Medication

CNS depressants slow down brain activity, making them a great treatment for sleeping disorders. Sonata and Ambien are two types of sleeping medication that are CNS depressants. Although they have a lower risk of dependency than other CNS depressants, long-term use may cause the condition.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Other Factors That Affect CNS Depression

Combining one or more CNS depressants often causes CNS depression. Alcohol is typically a culprit in these sorts of situations. This is why these medications specifically prohibit you from drinking alcohol while taking them.

People who already have a history of drug or alcohol dependency are at greater risk of developing severe CNS depression, which is why doctors take a thorough look into your medical history before prescribing CNS depressants for any condition.

Treatment for CNS depression depends on its cause. If it is a result of the misuse of CNS depressants, certain medications are prescribed.

Naloxone

Naloxone is administered to people who are suffering from anopioid overdose. It can either be administered as an injection or given intravenously.

Flumazenil

Flumazenil is administered to people who are experiencing severe side effects from using Benzodiazepines. Flumazenil is also used to treat an overdose of medications. However, it’s a short-acting drug and might need to be administered several times before a person recovers.

If severe CNS depression is left untreated, it can be fatal for the person living with the condition.

How Long Does Withdrawal From Benzodiazepines Last?

However, if you find that your CNS depressantsaffect your daily functioning, speak to your doctor about it. They’ll decide if you need to be taken off the medication, switched to another form of the medication, or if your dosage needs to be adjusted.

However, severe CNS depression needs immediate treatment, or it could result in heart failure or even death.

If you are on CNS depressants and suspect it’s making you more lethargic than you should be, don’t stop it until you speak to your doctor.Suddenly stopping the medicationcould result in more harm than good.

What This Means For YouMild CNS depression is often the goal of taking some CNS depressants, especially sleep and anxiety disorders. It’s important to take the medication exactly as your doctor prescribes to avoid a more severe form of the condition. It would be best to inform your doctor as soon as you experience any side effects that you find intolerable.

What This Means For You

Mild CNS depression is often the goal of taking some CNS depressants, especially sleep and anxiety disorders. It’s important to take the medication exactly as your doctor prescribes to avoid a more severe form of the condition. It would be best to inform your doctor as soon as you experience any side effects that you find intolerable.

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription CNS depressants drugfacts.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What classes of prescription drugs are commonly misused?Skolnik AB, Wilcox SR.Toxic alcohol poisoning. In:Critical Care Secrets. Elsevier; 2013:558-561. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-08500-7.00095-3Cordovilla-Guardia S, Lardelli-Claret P, Vilar-López R, López-Espuela F, Guerrero-López F, Fernández-Mondéjar E.The effect of central nervous system depressant, stimulant and hallucinogenic drugs on injury severity in patients admitted for trauma.Gaceta Sanitaria. 2019;33(1):4-9. doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2017.06.006National Institute on Drug Abuse.Naloxone drugfacts.

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription CNS depressants drugfacts.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What classes of prescription drugs are commonly misused?Skolnik AB, Wilcox SR.Toxic alcohol poisoning. In:Critical Care Secrets. Elsevier; 2013:558-561. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-08500-7.00095-3Cordovilla-Guardia S, Lardelli-Claret P, Vilar-López R, López-Espuela F, Guerrero-López F, Fernández-Mondéjar E.The effect of central nervous system depressant, stimulant and hallucinogenic drugs on injury severity in patients admitted for trauma.Gaceta Sanitaria. 2019;33(1):4-9. doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2017.06.006National Institute on Drug Abuse.Naloxone drugfacts.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription CNS depressants drugfacts.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What classes of prescription drugs are commonly misused?Skolnik AB, Wilcox SR.Toxic alcohol poisoning. In:Critical Care Secrets. Elsevier; 2013:558-561. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-08500-7.00095-3Cordovilla-Guardia S, Lardelli-Claret P, Vilar-López R, López-Espuela F, Guerrero-López F, Fernández-Mondéjar E.The effect of central nervous system depressant, stimulant and hallucinogenic drugs on injury severity in patients admitted for trauma.Gaceta Sanitaria. 2019;33(1):4-9. doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2017.06.006National Institute on Drug Abuse.Naloxone drugfacts.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription CNS depressants drugfacts.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What classes of prescription drugs are commonly misused?

Skolnik AB, Wilcox SR.Toxic alcohol poisoning. In:Critical Care Secrets. Elsevier; 2013:558-561. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-08500-7.00095-3

Cordovilla-Guardia S, Lardelli-Claret P, Vilar-López R, López-Espuela F, Guerrero-López F, Fernández-Mondéjar E.The effect of central nervous system depressant, stimulant and hallucinogenic drugs on injury severity in patients admitted for trauma.Gaceta Sanitaria. 2019;33(1):4-9. doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2017.06.006

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Naloxone drugfacts.

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