Tranquilize

Tranquilize is a verb meaning to calm or sedate someone, usually through the administration of a drug. In medical and veterinary contexts, the term is often replaced by more precise terms such as sedate, anxiolytic, sedative, or neuroleptic. The noun tranquilizer (or tranquilliser) refers to the agent used to produce calmness or sleep. Etymology traces to Latin tranquillus, meaning calm.

Usage includes reducing anxiety or agitation, facilitating medical or diagnostic procedures, or calming aggressive or difficult animals. In humans, benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam) are common minor tranquilizers that provide anxiolysis and sedation. In psychiatry, phenothiazines and related antipsychotics have been described as major tranquilizers. In veterinary medicine, sedatives and analgesics such as alpha-2 agonists (e.g., xylazine) and various opioids or benzodiazepines are used for restraint and relaxation during handling.

Administration is usually oral or injectable, with dosing tailored to age, weight, and medical status. Safety considerations include the risk of excessive sedation, respiratory or cardiovascular depression, and drug interactions, especially with alcohol or other depressants. Some tranquilizers can cause dependence or withdrawal symptoms with prolonged use, requiring careful monitoring and regulation.

Because the term is broad and somewhat outdated, modern usage typically specifies the drug class or purpose (anxiolytic, sedative, antipsychotic, or analgesic) rather than the generic term tranquilize. See also sedation, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic, and anesthesia.