| tranquilliser | <pharmacology> A medication with a calming, soothing effect that relieves anxiety. Most sedatives can also promote sleep. Overdosage of a sedative medication can lead to dangerous respiratory depression (slowed breathing). A large group of medications with sedative effects are the benzodiazepines. The first tranquilliser librium (chlordiazepoxidehydrochloride) was developed by the Hoffman-la Roche in 1958. The word tranquillise entered the english language much earlier (1623), and was derived from the latin tranquillus via the french tranquille meaning calm. Examples include: diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, alprazolam, clonazepam, temazepam, lorazepam, flurazepam, oxazepam, clorazepate and triazolam. (04 Jul 2000) |
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| major tranquilliser | |
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| minor tranquilliser | A functional category of drugs useful in the treatment of anxiety and able to reduce anxiety at doses which do not cause excessive sedation (e.g., diazepam). Synonym: anxiolytic, minor tranquilliser. (05 Mar 2000) |