antidepressant
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of medication: An antidepressant is any of a class of drugs primarily used to treat clinical depression and other mood disorders.
- Pharmacological agent: It refers to a substance that works to alleviate the symptoms of depression by affecting brain chemistry, often neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Her doctor prescribed an antidepressant to help manage her symptoms.
- Common side effects can occur when starting a new antidepressant.
- This particular antidepressant is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Advanced Usage
"First-line antidepressant": Refers to the medication typically tried first due to its established efficacy and safety profile.
- Sertraline is often considered a first-line antidepressant for major depressive disorder.
"Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)": A specific, older class of these drugs.
- Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that is also used for chronic pain.
Variants and Related Words
- Antidepressant functions solely as a noun. There is no direct verb or adjective form of the exact word.
- Antidepressive (adj): A less common adjective meaning having the effect of relieving depression. (e.g., ).
Synonyms
- Psychotropic drug: A broader term for any drug that affects the mind, emotions, or behavior.
- Mood stabilizer: A related but distinct class of drugs often used for bipolar disorder, not specifically for depression alone.
Related Phrases
"On antidepressants": A common phrase describing a person's medication regimen.
- He has been on antidepressants for six months.
"Antidepressant withdrawal": Refers to symptoms that can occur if the medication is stopped abruptly.
- It's important to taper off slowly to avoid antidepressant withdrawal.
Notes on Meaning
The term antidepressant specifically denotes a medical treatment. It is not used to describe a person, an activity, or a non-pharmacological intervention that might improve mood (e.g., exercise, therapy). Its core meaning is tied to a biochemical intervention for a medical condition.
Noun
-
any of a class of drugs used to treat depression; often have undesirable side effects
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