Home Counties appointments around four could be downers (9)
I believe the answer is:
sedatives
'downers' is the definition.
('sedative' can be a synonym of 'downer')
'home counties appointments around four' is the wordplay.
'home counties' becomes 'se'.
'appointments' becomes 'dates' ('date' can be a synonym of 'appointment').
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'four' becomes 'iv' (roman numeral).
'dates' enclosing 'iv' is 'datives'.
'se'+'datives'='SEDATIVES'
'could be' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sedatives that I've seen before include "Narcotics" , "Calming drugs" .)