major tranquilizer
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A type of powerful tranquilizing medication, specifically an antipsychotic drug, used in the treatment of severe psychiatric disorders (psychoses) to produce a calming or sedative effect and manage symptoms such as agitation, hallucinations, or delusions.
Usage
This term is used in medical and psychiatric contexts to classify a category of potent psychoactive drugs. It describes their primary therapeutic purpose: to tranquilize or calm patients experiencing psychotic episodes. * The psychiatrist prescribed a major tranquilizer to manage the acute symptoms of schizophrenia. * Treatment with a major tranquilizer often begins in a hospital setting.
Advanced Usage
- The term "major tranquilizer" is considered somewhat dated in current clinical practice. More precise contemporary terms include antipsychotic, neuroleptic, or first-generation antipsychotic.
- It is often contrasted with "minor tranquilizer," an older term for anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines.
Variants and Related Words
- Antipsychotic (noun): The modern, more common term for this class of drugs.
- Neuroleptic (noun): A technical synonym, often used interchangeably with "antipsychotic," emphasizing the drug's effect on the nervous system.
Synonyms
- Antipsychotic
- Neuroleptic
Related Phrases
- First-generation antipsychotic: Specifies the older class of major tranquilizers (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol).
- Typical antipsychotic: Another term for first-generation antipsychotics.
Noun
- tranquilizer used to treat psychotic conditions when a calming effect is desired