Prozac
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A specific brand name for the drug fluoxetine: Prozac is the trade name for a medication belonging to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is primarily prescribed to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and certain other conditions by increasing the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, in the brain.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- Her doctor prescribed Prozac to help manage her depression.
- The introduction of Prozac in the late 1980s changed the landscape of antidepressant treatment.
- He has been taking a generic version of Prozac for several months.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Reference: Due to its widespread use and popularity, "Prozac" has sometimes been used in a general, non-medical context to refer to something that artificially induces happiness or numbs emotions.
- Critics described the cheerful, simplistic policy as a kind of political Prozac.
Variants and Related Words
- Fluoxetine (n): The generic, non-branded name for the chemical compound marketed as Prozac.
- SSRI (n): An acronym for "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor," the class of antidepressants to which Prozac belongs. Other SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa).
- Antidepressant (n): A broader category of medication used to treat depressive disorders; Prozac is one type of antidepressant.
Synonyms
- Fluoxetine: The direct generic synonym.
- SSRI: A categorical synonym referring to its drug class.
Notes on Usage
- Capitalization: "Prozac" is a proper noun (a brand/trade name) and is always capitalized.
- Medical Context: This word is almost exclusively used in medical, pharmaceutical, or related cultural discussions. It is not a general vocabulary word.
Noun
- a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor commonly prescribed as an antidepressant (trade names Prozac or Sarafem); it is thought to work by increasing the activity of serotonin in the brain