A sedative or tranquilizer (or tranquilliser, see American and British English spelling differences) is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability^[1] or excitement.^[2]

At higher doses it may result in slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. Doses of sedatives such as benzodiazepines, when used as a hypnotic to induce sleep, tend to be higher than amounts used to relieve anxiety, whereas only low doses are needed to provide a peaceful and calming sedative effect.^[3]

Sedatives can be abused to produce an overly-calming effect (alcohol being the classic and most common sedating drug). At high doses or when they are abused, many of these drugs can cause unconsciousness (see hypnotic) and even death.

Terminology[link]

There is some overlap between the terms "sedative" and "hypnotic". The terms describe distinct effects, but medications that cause one of these effects often also cause the other.

Advances in pharmacology have permitted more specific targeting of receptors, and greater selectivity of agents, which necessitates greater precision when describing these agents and their effects:

• Anxiolytic refers specifically to the effect upon anxiety. (However, some benzodiazepines can be all three: sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics).
• Tranquilizer can refer to anxiolytics or antipsychotics.
• Soporific and sleeping pill are near-synonyms for hypnotics.

Types of sedatives[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

• Barbiturates
  • amobarbital (Amytal)
  • pentobarbital (Nembutal)
  • secobarbital (Seconal)
  • phenobarbital (Luminal)

• Benzodiazepines (trade names)
  • clonazepam (Klonopin N.America; Rivotril Europe, Asia )
  • diazepam (Valium)
  • estazolam (Prosom)
  • flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
  • lorazepam (Ativan)
  • midazolam (Versed)
  • nitrazepam (Mogadon)
  • oxazepam (Serax)
  • triazolam (Halcion)
  • temazepam (Restoril, Normison, Planum, Tenox, and Temaze)
  • chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
  • alprazolam (Xanax)

• Herbal sedatives
  • ashwagandha
  • Duboisia hopwoodii
  • Prostanthera striatiflora
  • catnip
  • kava (Piper methysticum)
  • valerian
  • cannabis
  • passiflora spp.(passiflora incarnata)

• Nonbenzodiazepine "Z-drugs" sedatives
  • eszopiclone (Lunesta)
  • zaleplon (Sonata)
  • zolpidem (Ambien)
  • zopiclone (Imovane, Zimovane)

• Antihistamines
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Dimenhydrinate
  • Doxylamine
  • Promethazine

• Other
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Alcohol (though no longer used medically, it is very popular among the public as a legal intoxicant)
  • trazodone
  • Opiates and Opioids

Therapeutic use[link]

Doctors often administer sedatives to patients in order to dull the patient's anxiety related to painful or anxiety-provoking procedures. Although sedatives do not relieve pain in themselves, they can be a useful adjunct to analgesics in preparing patients for surgery, and are commonly given to patients before they are anaesthetized, or before other highly uncomfortable and invasive procedures like cardiac catheterization, colonoscopy or MRI. They increase tractability and compliance of children or troublesome or demanding patients.

Patients in intensive care units are almost always sedated (unless they are unconscious from their condition anyway).

Sedative dependence[link]

Some sedatives can cause physiological and psychological dependence when taken regularly over a period of time, even at therapeutic doses.^[4][5][6][7] Dependent users may get withdrawal symptoms ranging from restlessness and insomnia to convulsions and death. When users become psychologically dependent, they feel as if they need the drug to function, although physical dependence does not necessarily occur, particularly with a short course of use. In both types of dependences, finding and using the sedative becomes the focus in life. Both physical and psychological dependence can be treated with therapy. (see Sedative Dependence).

Misuse[link]

Many sedatives can be misused, but barbiturates and benzodiazepines are responsible for most of the problems with sedative use due to their widespread recreational or non-medical use. People who have difficulty dealing with stress, anxiety or sleeplessness may overuse or become dependent on sedatives. Some heroin users may take them either to supplement their drug or to substitute for it. Stimulant users may take sedatives to calm excessive jitteriness. Others take sedatives recreationally to relax and forget their worries. Barbiturate overdose is a factor in nearly one-third of all reported drug-related deaths. These include suicides and accidental drug poisonings. Accidental deaths sometimes occur when a drowsy, confused user repeats doses, or when sedatives are taken with alcohol. In the U.S., in 1998, a total of 70,982 sedative exposures were reported to U.S. poison control centers, of which 2310 (3.2%) resulted in major toxicity and 89 (0.1%) resulted in death. About half of all the people admitted to emergency rooms in the U.S. as a result of nonmedical use of sedatives have a legitimate prescription for the drug, but have taken an excessive dose or combined it with alcohol or other drugs.^[8]

There are also serious paradoxical reactions that may occur in conjunction with the use of sedatives that lead to unexpected results in some individuals. Malcolm Lader at the Institute of Psychiatry in London estimates the incidence of these adverse reactions at about 5%, even in short-term use of the drugs. The paradoxical reactions may consist of depression, with or without suicidal tendencies, phobias, aggressiveness, violent behavior and symptoms sometimes misdiagnosed as psychosis.^[9]

Dangers of combining sedatives and alcohol[link]

Sedatives and alcohol are sometimes combined recreationally or carelessly. Since alcohol is a strong depressant that slows brain function and depresses respiration, the two substances compound each other's actions and this combination can prove fatal.

Sedatives and amnesia[link]

Sedation can sometimes leave the patient with long-term or short-term amnesia. Lorazepam is one such pharmacological agent that can cause anterograde amnesia. Intensive care unit patients who receive higher doses over longer periods, typically via IV drip, are more likely to experience such side effects.

Sedative drugs and crime[link]

Sedatives - most commonly alcohol^[10] but also GHB, Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), and to a lesser extent, temazepam (Restoril), and midazolam (Versed)^[11] - are well known for their use as date rape drugs (also called a Mickey) and being administered to unsuspecting patrons in bars or guests at parties to reduce the intended victims' defenses. These drugs are also used for robbing people. Statistical overviews suggest that the use of sedative-spiked drinks for robbing people is actually much more common than their use for rape.^[12] Cases of criminals taking rohypnol themselves before they commit crimes have also been reported^{[citation needed]}, as the loss of inhibitions from the drug may increase their confidence to commit the offence, and the amnesia produced by the drug makes it difficult for police to interrogate them if they are caught.

See also[link]

• Hypnotic
• Antidepressants
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome
• Tranquilizer
• Tranquilizer gun
• Diphenhydramine citrate

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Tone, Andrea. The Age of Anxiety: A History of America's Turbulent Affair with Tranquilizers (Basic Books, 2009) 288 pp.; ISBN 978-0-465-08658-0 excerpty and text search

Jojo Mayer
Background information
Birth name	Serge Mayer [1]
Born	(1963-01-18) 18 January 1963 (age 49) Zurich, Switzerland
Genres	Drum and bass, jazz, jungle, fusion
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1981–present
Associated acts	Nerve, Screaming Headless Torsos, Intergalactic Maiden Ballet, John Medeski, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dizzy Gillespie, Nina Simone
Website	www.jojomayer.com
Notable instruments
Sonor Drum kit, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks

Jojo Mayer (born 18 January 1963) is a highly acclaimed Swiss drummer born in Zurich and currently residing in New York City.

Mayer is the son of a touring musician and began his career as a drummer at an early age, receiving his first drum set at the age of two. Having taught himself throughout his childhood, he broke out into the professional music scene at the age of 18, joining the Monty Alexander group. Touring with the group launched him into the major jazz music scene, and he has played at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux, Nice, and Athens etc., which culminated with his gigging with jazz-greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone. Eventually, after playing with a great variety of artists, Mayer moved away from jazz and into Drum 'n' Bass.^[2]

Jojo Mayer is known for bringing together jazz, drum and bass, jungle, and other influences. He is also famous for his ability to play the rhythms of programmed jungle drum 'n' bass music on acoustic drums, terming this technique "reverse engineering", a phrase borrowed from computing.^[2] He executes this approach using various methods such as the heel-toe bass drum technique, the Moeller stroke, and the "pull-out" or "push-pull" accent which takes the beat on the rebound. Using these techniques, he can play beats at astonishing speeds. A few of his main influences are Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette and Buddy Rich.

He is the leader of live electronica trio Nerve, which he founded in 1997.

He played with the guitarist David Fiuczynski in the avant-garde pop rock band Screaming Headless Torsos and in the fusion jazz band, Intergalactic Maiden Ballet.

He ran the popular Prohibited Beatz live electronica party in NYC from 1996-2001.

Discography[link]

With Intergalactic Maiden Ballet:

• 1992 - Square Dance
• 1994 - Gulf

With John Medeski:

• 1994 - Lunar Crush

With Screaming Headless Torsos:

• 1995 - Screaming Headless Torsos

With Harry Sokal:

• 1996 - Rave the Jazz! :live:

Sulfur:

• 1998 - Delirium Tremens

With Janek Gwizdala:

• 2004 - Mystery To Me - Live in New York
• 2010 - The Space In Between
• 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 17th 2011 1st set
• 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 17th 2011 2nd set
• 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 18th 2011 1st set
• 2011 - Live at the Jamboree June 18th 2011 2nd set

With Depart

• 2006 - Reloaded
• 2008 - Mountain Messenger

Jojo Mayer & Nerve:

• 2007 - Prohibited Beats
• 2010 - EP1
• 2010 - EP2
• 2011 - EP3
• 2011 - The Distance Between Zero And One

Media[link]

He was featured as the cover story of the January 2008 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. His DVD, Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer, is a bestseller worldwide.

Jojo Mayer was interviewed by DrummerConnection.com - May 2010 - Jojo Mayer Interview by DrummerConnection.com

Jojo Mayer was interviewed by Linus Wyrsch on "The Jazz Hole" for breakthruradio.com in July 2010 - Jojo Mayer Interview by breakthruradio.com

Gear[link]

Mayer is a long-time Sonor endorser who also uses Sabian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks. He helped Sonor design the Jungle kit and snare. He has also collaborated with Sabian to create two lines of cymbals, the Vault "Fierce" series, and the AAX "Omni" series. His Vault Fierce cymbals feature a raw, unlathed finish, and extensive hand hammering, while the Omnis are designed to function as both rides and crashes. Mayer usually uses birch Sonor drums in the following sizes:

14" and 13" Snare Drum

10" Tom Tom

14" Floor Tom

8" Tom to the right of the Floor Tom

20" or 18" Bass Drum

Sizes may vary primarily based on local drum availability.

For drumheads (all Evans):

14" Hybrid Coated

14" Hazy 300

12" G Plus Clear

12" G Plus Coated

12" Hydraulic Black

12" Hydraulic Glass

For cymbals, he's recently been using (all Sabian):

22" AAX Omni

18" Fierce Crash

18" AAX Omni

13" El Sabor Splash

13" HHX Evolution Top Hi Hat over 14" HHX Evolution Mini-China

10" Fierce Hi Hats

13" Fierce Hi Hats

10" Chopper

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jojo Mayer’s homepage
• Jojo Mayer's Nerve Info at Basitours
• Myspace Page
• JoJo Mayer Interview by DrummerConnection.com - 5 May 2010