Tranquilizers are drugs that slow down the nervous system.
They are often prescribed to relieve anxiety or stress, or to help calm a person before surgery. Sometimes tranquilizers act differently in older people because of age-related body changes, so it is important to know what to expect and when to be concerned. Like any other medication, you should take tranquilizers only if you need to and only the amount you need. This is because while producing the desired response in your body, most medications cause other responses, too, called side effects. Side effects can be so slight that you don't notice them.