Posted by yxibow on September 13, 2008, at 2:31:14
In reply to CNS depressant vs. clinical depression, posted by llurpsienoodle on September 12, 2008, at 12:49:28
Most calming agents are "depressive", akin basically to depressing the CNS (central nervous system). They can increase GABA and target a whole panoply of receptors.
The main risk and danger of all the agents that fall into the class of CNS depressants (e.g. benzodiazepines, Neurontin, pseudobenzodiazepines [Lunesta, etc] alcohol, barbiturates, heroin, kava, OTC antihistamines like Benadryl to an extent)..... is "stacking" (multiple, 2, 3, 4 at at time, i.e. an attempt to promote bad anxiety or insomnia).
Stacking can lead to "CNS depression" which is a serious medical condition of low heart rate, breathing, lung depression, and possible coma and death depending on just how much the central nervous system is slowed down. Immediate medical attention is necessary.
This is a possible theory of what may have happened to Heath Ledger, for example, or it may have been suicide. Many instances of this have happened.
The point is, for your doctor, and for yourself to monitor this polypharmacy and your own additional add-ons to prevent this.
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:851665
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080903/msgs/851745.html