Definition

Noun: 1. A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant: "Marplan" is the trade name for a specific prescription medication. Its generic drug name is isocarboxazid. It belongs to a class of drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which work by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that are involved in regulating mood. It is used in the treatment of clinical depression.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed Marplan after other antidepressants were ineffective.
  • Patients taking Marplan must follow a strict diet to avoid dangerous interactions with certain foods.
  • Due to its potential side effects, Marplan is typically not a first-line treatment for depression.

Advanced Usage

• As a proper noun/trademark: "Marplan" is always capitalized as it is a registered trademark. In formal medical writing, it is often followed by its generic name in parentheses: .
• Clinical context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical, psychiatric, and pharmacological contexts. It is not used in everyday conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Isocarboxazid (n): The generic, non-proprietary name for the drug marketed as Marplan.
• MAOI (n, abbreviation): Stands for Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor, the class of drugs to which Marplan belongs.
• Antidepressant (n): The broader category of medications used to treat depression.

Synonyms

• Antidepressant: A general term for medications that alleviate depression.
• Psychotropic medication: A broad term for drugs that affect the mind, emotions, or behavior.

Important Notes (Not Idioms or Phrasal Verbs)

• Critical Warning: Marplan requires significant dietary restrictions (e.g., avoiding aged cheeses, cured meats, certain alcoholic beverages) to prevent a hypertensive crisis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening increase in blood pressure.
• Drug Interactions: It has many serious interactions with other medications, including over-the-counter cold medicines and other antidepressants.

Noun

1. a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (trade name Marplan) that is used to treat clinical depression