Question

Differentiate between tranquillisers and sedatives.

Answer 1

Aspect	Tranquillisers	Sedatives
Primary effect	These drugs bring about mental peace by relieving anxiety and tension without affecting consciousness.	These drugs produce a calming effect by reducing mental activity, which often leads to sleep.
Sleep induction	Their primary goal is to relax the mind without inducing sleep or drowsiness.	They are specifically designed to induce relaxation or sleep in the patient.
Consciousness	These drugs do not affect the level of consciousness or alertness of the person.	High doses of these drugs can lead to the complete suppression of consciousness.
Medical use	They are used to treat psychological disorders and severe emotional stress.	They are used to treat insomnia (sleeplessness) and to calm patients before surgery.
Examples	Diazepam (Valium), Alprazolam, and Equanil.	Barbiturates, Amobarbital, and Benzodiazepines.