Dictionary:

tranquilizer

  (trăng'kwə-līz'ər, trăn'-)

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1. One that serves to tranquilize, as soothing music.
2. Any of various drugs used to reduce tension or anxiety; an antianxiety agent.
3. Any of various drugs used to treat psychotic states; an antipsychotic drug. Not in scientific use.

A psychopharmacologic drug that tends to have a calming effect, and is unique in inducing drowsiness without impairing ready arousal and in restraining hyperactivity without inducing coma or arrest of respiratory muscles.

According to basic chemical structure, five categories of tranquilizers can be delineated: (1) phenothiazines (for example, chlorpromazine) and rauwolfia derivatives (for example, reserpine) are major or antipsychotic tranquilizers; (2) propanediols (for example, meprobamate, or Miltown), (3) diphenylmethanes (for example, benactyzine), (4) chlordiazepoxide and derivatives (for example, Librium and Valium), and (5) a miscellaneous group used generally for nighttime sedation (for example, ectylurea, glutethimide, and methylparafynol) are termed minor or sedative antianxiety tranquilizers. The antipsychotic tranquilizers in greatest use are phenothiazines, of which there are many derivatives and trade names. The sedative antianxiety agents are generally used in crisis situations or in neurotic episodes of intense anxiety or panic. Their effectiveness is more difficult to establish and is less specific than that of drugs for the treatment of psychosis. In high dosages such drugs have an addiction liability and can produce convulsions on withdrawals.

Definition: sedative
Antonyms: stimulant

One of a poorly defined group of drugs designed to control anxiety and reduce tension or stress. Tranquilizers tend to induce drowsiness and may cause physical and psychologic dependence. Most tranquilizers are controlled substances.

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Any of a group of compounds that calm or quiet an anxious patient. There are two types: the major tranquilizers called also neuroleptics (2) or antipsychotic agents, such as acepromazine, and the minor tranquilizers called also antianxiety agents, such as diazepam (Valium). See also psychotropic drugs.

• t. gun — see blow dart.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - beroligende middel

Français (French)
n. - tranquillisant

Deutsch (German)
n. - Beruhigungsmittel

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αγχολυτικό, καταπραϋντικό, ηρεμιστικό φάρμακο

Italiano (Italian)
calmante

Português (Portuguese)
n. - tranqüilizante, tranqüilizador

Русский (Russian)
успокаивающее средство, транквилизатор

Español (Spanish)
n. - calmante, tranquilizante, sedante

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - lugnande medel

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
镇定剂, 使镇定的人或物

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鎮定劑, 使鎮定的人或物

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 정신 안정제, 진정시키는 사람

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 落ちつかせる人, 精神安定薬, トランキライザー, 精神安定剤

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סם הרגעה, משכך כאבים‬

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