Introduction

In pharmacology, a psycholeptic is a medication which produces a calming effect upon a person.

Refer to Analeptic.

Background

Such medications include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines, phenothiazines, opiates/opioids, carbamates, ethanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, cannabinoids (in some classifications), some antidepressants, neuroleptics, and some anticonvulsants.

Many herbal medicines may also be classified as psycholeptics (e.g. kava).

Psycholeptics are classified under N05 in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.