Definition

Noun: A brand name for the antifungal medication griseofulvin. It is an oral antibiotic used to treat fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails, such as ringworm. It works by stopping the growth of fungus.

Usage

• As a proper noun (brand/trade name): The word is typically used with an initial capital letter when referring specifically to the branded medication.
• Context: It is used in medical and pharmaceutical contexts to refer to this specific treatment.

Examples

• The doctor prescribed Fulvicin for the patient's persistent ringworm infection.
• Fulvicin is effective against many types of dermatophyte fungi.
• Treatment with Fulvicin often requires several weeks to be successful.

Advanced Usage

• While "Fulvicin" is a specific trade name, the generic drug name is griseofulvin. In medical literature, the generic name is more commonly used.
• The term may appear in historical contexts, as griseofulvin was one of the first oral antifungal agents discovered.

Variants and Related Words

• Griseofulvin (n): The generic, non-proprietary name for the antifungal compound.
• Antifungal (n/adj): A substance that destroys or inhibits the growth of fungus.
• Antibiotic (n): A medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms.

Synonyms

• Griseofulvin (the direct synonym as the generic drug name)
• Antimycotic (a more general term for antifungal agents)

Notes

• Fulvicin is not a type of penicillin, despite being produced by molds from the genus . This is a common point of confusion. Penicillins are antibacterial, while griseofulvin (Fulvicin) is specifically antifungal.
• It is crucial for learners to distinguish between brand names (like Fulvicin) and the drug's generic or chemical name (griseofulvin).

Noun

1. a kind of penicillin (a fungicidal antibiotic with the trade name Fulvicin) produced by molds of the genus Penicillium