PSYB65H3 Lecture Notes - Hypnotic, Peyote, Panic Attack
Document Summary
Generally categorized into barbiturates, non-barbiturates (everything else) and alcohol. Classification of drugs usually used to help people sleep or relax. Gaba - primary inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter. Whenever you increase gaba, then you slow things down. Barbiturates bind to gaba -receptors in the brain. Tends to decrease excitability in the brain. Also synergistic with other sedatives/sedative hypnotics and anxiolytic drugs (valium) as well as anticonvulsants. Synergistic - at the minimum , if you put them together they are additive - if you take a barbiturate and one beer -> equivalent to having 3 beers . (they multiply the effects of each other) Biggest group they were used for was the elderly. Also causes a problem because people spend less time in rem sleep. Withdrawal - convulsions (seizures), (can administer other depressants to help them through the withdrawal e. g. alcohol) When you take someone off a depressant you substitute another depressant. Produced by yeast digesting sugar and excreting alcohol.
