ABSTRACT
Pathologic findings in fatalities from central nervous system depressants include pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and cerebral edema. Depressant drugs should be stored safely. Prescription containers should have a warning label and a child-proof cap. Antihistaminic drugs in toxic doses produce a complex of central nervous system excitatory and depressant effects, partly from atropine-like anticholinergic effects. Acute toxic ingestion first manifests as agitation, delirium and seizures. After this initial hyperactivity, sedation, hypotension, hypothermia and coma occur. Drug dependence has been reported to result from abuse of many of the selective depressants. Convulsions can occur from abrupt withdrawal. All central nervous system depressants, including ethanol, enhance the central nervous system depressant effects of other central nervous system depressants, anesthetics, tranquilizers, antihistamines, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants. Phenytoin toxicity can occur in slow acetylators given disulfiram or isoniazid. A large number of drugs are used as depressants to relieve anxiety, relax muscle spasm, or inhibit cough.
