Catchall term for the various drugs used in the process of domestication of various xeno species. Xenodrugs are far more effective when used on those with a haustoric-implant. The xeno in 'xenodrug' refers to any non-Affini. Affini typically carry a number of xenodrugs on themselves through plantlife grafted onto their vines, cultivated to produce the specific xenodrug. Xenodrugs can be delivered through needles, inhalants, topical saps, and even through edibles and drinks!
Affini xenoethnobotanists are hard at work at identifying other plants and compounds that can enrich the lives of the sophonts that have come to live under the Compact's beneficience.
"Hello, all you wonderful cuties! This is the Doctor. Doctor Who? Doctor Mankurinania, Twenty-fifth Bloom, He/Him here! I’m joined by an ICU Nurse, the absolutely adorable Kitten, and we’re going to… wait… why is she blushing… Gladialis? Why is she covering her face? Doesn’t she know how cute she is? You keep telling me how adorable she is. Why are YOU blushing now? Wait… this is… oh Roots, this is still recording!”
Sounds of shuffling and what may have been a muffled squeal
“Ahem. Doctor Mankurinania here. Kitten recently brought to my attention that some of you Terran cuties might have reservations about xenodrugs because you don’t know how they work. So I partnered with her and we’re going to be explaining how they work, along with fun little anecdotes along the way! Gladialis, will you stop blushing? You’re distracting Kitten!”
This is the drug that keeps all you cuties from having panic attacks, but also helps with anxiety, depression, and a whole host of other problems. While they work well, they are NOT a reason to skip therapy. These are used in adjunct to therapy. The tiny bit of uncoordination just makes you all cuter - Doctor Manku
Speak to your vet about starting out small and then working up to a dose that gets you where you need to be. More isn't always better, this isn't Tiramisu. - Kitten
Anxiolytics. This class of xenodrug works by inhibiting a specific neurotransmitter in the Terran brain. Esrachay (a Terran neurotransmitter that was undiscovered until the cotyledon program was underway) is kept from spilling into the synaptic cleft, while the threshold for binding to the already present receptor site is significantly raised. This decreases anxiety without the side effects normally experiences when using Terran Benzodiazepenes, in addition to withdrawal symptoms. They are often paired with a Class A in a recreational setting, but they function well on their own. They are administered in inhalant, oral, and parenteral form.
/!\ CAUTION /!\ The usage of Class E xenodrugs often carries with it a degree of impairment to Terran motor functions and response times. Care should be used that these xenodrugs not be used while performing tasks that require a degree of fine motor control.
“These are really fun if your floret enjoys being your little dolly! Dress them up, take pictures with them, and enjoy snuggling them! You'll know that it's working when they get the most adorable blank expression on their face. Have fun posing them, don't forget to take pictures, and make sure that you have some of their favorite drinks ready when they wake up. It's hard work being that cute and they need the fluids!” - The Doctor
Class-M Xenodrugs are compounds that cause a dissociative state that affects motor neurons traveling from the recipients brain to their muscles. They work by targeting the basal ganglia and rendering the ones that are responsible for motor function inactive. They also contain calcium channel uptake inhibitors that cause calcium to stay bound to skeletal muscle fibers causing them to remain where they are moved, in a catatonic state. But none of them affect consciousness or the medulla oblongata from enervating lungs and heart and other organs. These compounds are slowly cleared by the kidneys and excreted, with many having a half life of hours.
/!\ Caution /!\ It should be obvious that these must be administered by a sophont who will remain with and observe the sophonts receiving the class M. Serious injury could be sustained if used improperly. Affini and other sophonts who are administering these agents are notified that they must change the position of the affected sophont every forty five minutes or pressure injuries could develop.
These are the xenodrugs that makes you cuties all sleepy and snoozy and even more cute, if such a thing is even possible!! There are a couple of different types, and each one does different things. But they DO guarantee a good night of sleep, which is important for you cuties to have. They literally help you catch Z's!! - The Doctor
As always talk to your vet or your owner beforehand and make sure that you have the right one. AND make sure that you have the next eight hours free, because once you take this, that's how long you're gonna be asleep, unless someone wakes you up. And for crying out loud, sophonts, READ THE WARNINGS!!!! Some of this stuff can really hurt you if you use it the wrong way - Kitten
There are a few different subtypes of Class-Z xenodrugs, with multiple agents in each subtype that can achieve this effect. The class itself deals with sleep, dreams, wake-sleep cycles, and the regulation of said cycles. An aerosolized version is also used in Affini pacification and peacekeeping operations, ensuring that no sophonts are harmed.
Main Class: The basic action of the regular Class-Z on the hypothalamus enables it to rapidly overproduce and “dump” a massive amount of GABA, a Terran neurotransmitter, that basically relaxes arousal centers in the brain. At the same time, adenosine is released, which induces sleep, and the pineal gland releases a large amount of melatonin into the Terran brain. On it’s own, each of these things might make a sophont sleepy, but taken in aggregate, they rapidly transition a sophont from wake to deep sleep. Studies of Terran brains show the rapid transition from beta and gamma waves, which are the brainwaves Terrans have when awake, to delta waves, the hallmark of deep sleep.
Subtypes:
Class-Z0: Basically a Class Z antagonist. This functions as a "super caffeine" by inhibiting the transition of beta waves in the brain to alpha waves, keeping the Terran brain awake and ready for action. In addition, this also promotes a slow release of catecholamines into the bloodstream, in addition to epinephrine.
Class-Z-h: This subtype of Class-Z is given to Sophonts who are about to be put in stasis. It works by supressing Delta waves, slowing Terran neurological activity to a standstill, thereby "freezing" the Terran brain.
Class-Z-wl: This subtype gives sophonts really vivid dreams in addition to promoting sleep. It works by increasing the time that Theta waves are created and propogated in the Terran brain.
Class-Z0: This bears a genetic similarity to another xenodrug, a Class-A Variant called Cerysinil that promotes wakefullness and focus. Using this subtype of Class-Z too often is grounds for compulsory Wellness Checks and/or Domestication, and mixing Class-Z0 and Cerysinil is grounds for Immediate Compulsory Domestication.
The Compulsory Domestication is smart and makes sense, because the sophont mixing these two would drop dead of exhaustion that they wouldn't be able to feel, IF they survived the initial five minutes without a heart attack. This is why we don't mix and match xenodruggies without asking, sophonts!!! Same thing for abusing them. Play safe!! - Kitten
"You know, this isn't the same thing as drinking a cup of coffee or five, Kitten. But even that isn't so good for you. Water is" - Doc
"Oh Roots, not you too!!! Leave my precious coffee alone, you leaf-covered killjoys!" - Kitten
Class-Z-h: Usage is prohibited, disallowed, and forbidden in any scenario that doesn't involve Stasis.
"Obviously, this is only given by specially trained Affini who are helping pack you cuties up for shipment to your new Owners after Pacification and Domestication. Your Owners can't wait to take you into their loving vines, but they certainly don't want you to have a bad time during the long trip it can sometimes be." - Doc Manku
This one is important. It prevents Terrans for being awake during stasis, which would be terrible. Should ONLY be given during Stasis since it basically shuts a Terran brain off." - Kitten
Class-Z: Do NOT take before attempting to perform anything that doesn't involve sleeping for approximately eight hours. Taking while operating any machinery of any kind is grounds for Compulsory Domestication.
"Talk to your vet or Owner about which one is right for you. Some of you cuties can have adverse reactions to Class Z's. Isn't that right, Kitten?" - Doc
"That's right, Doc. I took a Class-Z without finding out first, and ended up with a case of the Zoomies so bad I was unconscious for almost a day. I could have gotten REALLY sick or injured, but thankfully I was ok. That's why I...oh...Gladialis, stop apologizing, it wasn't your fault. I know that you're sorry, you don't have to...well...ok...that's a nice way to make it up to me. But Doc is ri" - Kitten
Kittens microphone mysteriously shuts off, an act that nobody can explain.