eli5: Why do drugs that make you drowsy make you drowsy
In: Chemistry
Drugs that make you drowsy are drugs that can reach the brain and affect the central nervous system. The depress the neutrotransitters in the brain.
Benzodiazepenes, for instance, which are used to treat conditions like anxiety and insomnia, boost the effect of a brain chemical that makes it harder for brain cells to fire, causing a sedative effect. The antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) uses a different mechanism to directly depress the brain’s arousal system
Other drugs such as beta blockers use to control blood pressure can cause fatigue and tiredness by reducing heart rate.
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