Do you want to know whether Alcohol is a depressant or stimulant? Or do you want to know whether it will make you more active or relaxed? The answer is not that simple; let’s see.
Alcohol is usually referred to as a depressant because of its common calming effects, but it’s not the final answer. There is much more to it than just this statement. It contains the properties of both depressants and stimulants, so it can be both. We’ll understand it in detail below.
Once you have finished reading this blog post, you will have a clear idea of what Alcohol and water you should take. We have also shared its chemical compositions to help you clear your doubts. But let’s first start by understanding depressants and stimulants, and then we will move on to Alcohol.
What Are Depressants And Stimulants?
Depressants and stimulants are both almost opposite to each other. There are alot of differences in them and their effects. Let’s check them out in detail below.
Depressants
Depressants are the type of drugs that slow you down and make you feel more relaxed. These affect your central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and digestion process. They slow everything down and can cause drowsiness, relaxation and sleepiness.
These can be very risky upon overdose and can even lead you to coma or death. These are both medicated and non-medicated. Here are some of the common depressants.
- Alcohol
- Heroin
- Benzodiazepine like Xanax
- Opioids
- Barbiturates
Stimulants
Stimulants are the type of drugs which make you more active. Some of them are even used in everyday life, while others are susceptible and are only given upon prescription, e.g. for Adhd patients. Stimulants increase your neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine)and brain activity.
Serotonin also increases your blood pressure and heart rate. These may also produce effects like decreased appetite and others. Here are some of the ordinary and prescribed stimulants.
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Adderall
- Ritalin
- Focalin
Overdose of stimulants can cause side effects like chest pain, sweating, vomiting, headaches, abdominal pain, and dizziness.
What Is Alcohol?
Alcohol is usually kept in the category of depressants, but it can also show a stimulant effect in some cases. It depends on several factors on how Alcohol will impact you. It is used in many forms like beers, wines, whiskey, vodka and rum. Here are some factors which might play a role in his regard.
- Bodyweight
- Gender
- Age
- Body chemistry
- Alcohol tolerance
Alcohol As A Stimulant
Although Alcohol is technically a depressant, when first ingested, it acts as a stimulant. Dopamine also improves mood and increases the ability to feel pleasure and motivation.
In addition, Alcohol has a depressant effect on the rest of the body in small amounts. Heart rate and blood pressure increase, as does alertness, confidence and energy levels. The results of this stimulant are not the same for everyone.
Alcohol initially acts as a stimulant, especially at a BAC of 0.05 mg / l. Its stimulant effects are at the top stage at this level.
Alcohol As A Depressant
Alcohol is considered a central nervous system depressant. It reduces brain activity by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA slows down brain activity, causing speech, coordination, and sleep—Alcohol increases the effects of GABA on brain receptors.
The neurological effects of Alcohol include slowing down mental processes. Alcohol interferes with the ability to think clearly and impairs perception and thinking. The stimulant effects of Alcohol reduce the excitability of the brain, which is why Alcohol and other depressants and tranquillisers are often called “depressants”.
Alcohol can slow down the nervous system to the extent that breathing and heart rate are affected. When a person reaches a BAC of 0.08 mg / l (the legal level of intoxication in most areas) after taking it, the depressant effects take over the stimulant effects.
Depressant Effects
Alcohol can have a lot of depressant effects, mainly when used in large amounts. Here are some of the impacts which you might feel.
- Impaired coordination
- Low blood pressure
- Blurry vision
- Vomiting
- Dizziness,
- Feeling nausea
- Speech problems
Is Tequila A Stimulant Or A Depressant?
Many people don’t believe tequila is a depressant because of its properties, like making you happy and not high. However, it is a form of alcohol and is a depressant. You will be able to see its depressive effects when used in large amounts.
Alcohol’s Chemical Composition
Here, we will learn about the chemical composition of Alcohol to help you better understand whether it is a depressant or a stimulant. There are alot of names for Alcohol, but the one used in alcoholic beverages is ethyl alcohol. Here are further details about its decomposition.
Ethanol (C2H5OH): The chemical formula of ethyl alcohol is C2H5OH. Five Hydrogen groups are attached to 2 carbon groups, and one hydroxyl group is attached to the carbon.
Final Words
Alcohol is a depressant, but it can also reflect some stimulant qualities. Although it depends on several factors, if you want to define it, you can say it is a stimulant until blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.05 mg/liter. But when it reaches 0.08 mg / l, it becomes more of a depressant.
In any case, any form of Alcohol is not suitable for your health, so you should avoid it as much as you can. Overusing Alcohol can even lead to Alcohol use disorder and severely affect your life. Be careful with its usage because its overdose can also cause severe problems like extremely low BP and even stroke, heart attack or death.
