Sedative
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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A sedative, or, more specifically, a sedative-hypnotic, is a substance that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in calmness, relaxation, sleepiness, slowed breathing, reduction of anxiety, and possibly - at higher doses - slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. Doses of sedative-hypnotics when used as a hypnotic to induce sleep tend to be higher than those used to relieve anxiety. Sedative-hypnotics may be referred to as tranquilizers, depressants, anxiolytics, soporifics, and sleeping pills. Sedative-hypnotics can be abused to produce an overly-calming effect (alcohol being the classic and most common sedating drug). At high doses or when they are abused, many of these drugs can cause unconsciousness (see hypnotic) and even death.
