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.
Substances that slow down the central nervous system activity are typically called depressants and this includes alcohol This is not the answer though. It goes far deeper than this statement. That is why it can be a depressant and a stimulant Ina similar way – it has the properties of both substances in it. We’ll delve deeper into the concept below.
When you are done reading this particular blog post, you should know which Alcohol and water you need to consume.. 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 in contrast with one another. There are many differences between them and the effects or impacts too. Well, let’s elaborate on these in detail below.
Depressants
Benzodiazepines are those that make you slow down and make you relaxed more than you are. These affect your central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and digestion process. They slow everything down and can cause drowsiness, relaxation and sleepiness.
These may be very dangerous upon overdose and you can be put to a coma or even die from the drugs. These are both medicated and non-medicated. Some of the ordinary and prescribed stimulants include these ones.
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Alcohol
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Heroin
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Benzodiazepine like Xanax
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Opioids
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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.
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Caffeine
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Nicotine
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Marijuana
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Adderall
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Ritalin
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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.
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Bodyweight
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Gender
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Age
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Body chemistry
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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 reduces arousal levels within the brain and is involved in speech, coordination and sleep—Alcohol also enhances the action of GABA receptors within the brain.
Some of the neurological effects of alcohol include A reduction in mental speed. It slows one’s decision making and impairs one’s judgment and vision. 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.
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Impaired coordination
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Low blood pressure
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Blurry vision
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Vomiting
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Dizziness,
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Feeling nausea
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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. It is though part of the alcohol family and it is a depressant. You will be able to observe the depressive action if however it is used in large volumes.
Chemicals Present in Alcohol
Here, we will share with you the chemical content of Alcohol to assist you when determining whether Alcohol 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, 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.
