Downer (drugs)
Downer (from Eng. "Down": down) refers to drugs with a calming, tired-making, relaxing and anxiety-relieving effect. These include in particular sedatives (sedatives, tranquilizers), anxiolytics (anxiety relievers), hypnotics (sleeping pills) and analgesics (pain relievers, especially opiates).
The opponents of the downers are called upper (from eng. "Up": up). In order to "come down" from the uppers taken in, downers are often used in mixed consumption . It is hoped that this will counteract the negative effects of the upper or intercept psychotic attacks.
Examples
- Ethanol (alcohol)
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- valerian
- opiate
- Opioids
- cannabis
- Distraneurine (clomethiazole)
- MPPP
- MPTP
- Kratom
Risks
Downers usually suppress bodily functions, which can have serious consequences, especially in continuous consumption. With acute poisoning, nausea, vomiting, shock, unconsciousness often occur. In the worst case, cardiac arrest and respiratory paralysis occur. The physical and psychological dependency potential of downers is usually quite high.