TRANQUILIZERS
Facts About The Drug
What It Is
Names: Tranks, downers, antianxiety agents (anxiolytics), happy pills, BZDs, mood modifiers, mood elevators.
Minor Tranquilizers:
Benzodiazepines I: Alprazolam (Xanax), chlorazepate (Tranxene), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Novopoxide), diazepam (E.Pam, Valium, Vivol), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serax), Vs (Valium).
Benzodiazepines II: Flurazepam (Dalmane, Novoflupam, Somnol), nitrazepam (Mogadon), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion).
Meprobamate: Equanil, Meprospan-400, Miltown.
Forms: Bezodianzepines I –– white, creamy or yellow powder, crystalline or fine. Benzodianzepines II –– white or yellow crystalline powder. Meprobamate –– white powder. Soluble in varying degrees with water and/or alcohol.
Combinations: Librax (chlordiazepoxide, clidinium bromide) for peptic ulcer, 217 Mep (meprobamate, ASA, caffeine citrate), 282 Mep (217 Mep plus codeine phosphate). When abused, combined with other central nervous system depressants, especially alcohol and barbiturates.
Usage: Swallowed as capsule, tablet or liquid. Injected into bloodstream as solution.
Legal Status: Legal as manufactured and prescribed.
Other Forms: Major tranquilizers are used in managing psychiatric illness. Unlike minor tranquilizers, their effects do not mirror sedative/hypnotic drugs. Combined with alcohol and other depressants, however side effects are intensified.
What It Feels Like
Relaxation and calmness, (mild euphoria with diazepam, more intense with meprobamate), drowsiness, fatigue, hostility, dizziness, depression, blurred and double vision, confusion, memory loss, hallucinations.
What It Does
To Your Mind: Activates specific brain receptors.
To Your Body: Interferes with control of movements.
Special Characteristics: Diazepam is often substituted for methaqualone (ludes, 714s, Quaalude) when sold on the street. Small amounts of alcohol can be lethal when interacting with benzodiazepines. Heroin addicts and recovering alcoholics use Diazepam to achieve mild intoxication. Benzodiazepines can alleviate side effects of withdrawal from other drug abuse.
How It Can Hurt You
Lack of concentration. Altered speech, confusion, coma. Withdrawal effects. Tremors, altered speech, rapid heart rate, blood pressure drop, headache. Mood swings, tensions, nightmares, nausea, rash. Loss of sexual function, apathy, increased toxic effects in combination with other CNS depressant drugs.
Death from effects of combinations of tranquilizers and other drugs such as alcohol, or from driving under the influence.
When To Get Help
- Do you find it hard to cope without a pill?
- Is your work or school performance affected by your drug use?
- Are you having problems with family and friends?
- Do you use a variety of drugs?
One "yes" and your common sense tells you it''s time to get smart about drugs and the rest of your life.
Fact:Tranquilizers are the most widely prescribed psychotherapeutic agents in the world, and are most involved in suicide attempts and accidental overdoses.
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