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- Tranquillisers depress nervous-system activity and temporarily ease anxiety or agitation.
- The same action may cause drowsiness, impaired reactions, falls and memory problems.
- Regular use can cause tolerance: more medicine may be needed for the same effect while risks also increase.
- Dependence can be physical and psychological, so reduction usually needs gradual supervised tapering.
- Never abruptly stop a regularly used medicine, even if tired of taking it or running low.
- Alcohol, opioids, other sleeping medicines and some antihistamines can dangerously amplify depression of the nervous system.
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