What Kind of Drug Is It?

Tranquilizing drugs slow normal brain function. For that reason, they are often referred to as depressants. These kinds of drugs work by affecting the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that help brain cells communicate with one another by spreading nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. The higher the level of GABA activity in the brain, the greater the calming effect produced. Tranquilizers are prescribed by doctors only and are usually dispensed as pills or capsules. Some types come in liquid or solution form.

Because tranquilizers slow down normal brain activity and produce a calming or drowsy effect, they are among the most common drugs prescribed to patients suffering from insomnia. Insomniacs are patients who either have trouble falling asleep or cannot fall asleep at all. Tranquilizers are also prescribed to patients diagnosed with anxiety, a type of...