Depressant

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Pictured above are bottles of alcohol, the most common depressant.

Depressants (also known as sedatives and informally as "downers") are a major class of psychoactive substances that decreases activity in the brain through the lowering of neurotransmission levels, depressing or reducing arousal/stimulation in various areas of the brain.^[1] Depressants represent one of the three major classes of psychoactive substances alongside stimulants ("uppers") and hallucinogens.

Depressants are widely used throughout the world as prescription medicine and as illicit substances. Subjective effects can vary but generally include sedation, anxiety suppression, disinhibition, muscle relaxation, and euphoria. Side effects include decreased blood pressure, lowered heart rate, respiratory depression, and even complete anesthesia or death at high doses.

Depressants exert their effects through a number of different pharmacological mechanisms. The most prominent include the facilitation of GABA or opioid activity and the inhibition of glutamatergic or catecholaminergic activity.