paregoric
/,pærə'gɔrik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A medicinal preparation used primarily to treat diarrhea: Paregoric is a camphorated tincture of opium, historically used as an anti-diarrheal and pain-relieving medicine. It acts by slowing intestinal movement.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The doctor prescribed paregoric to control the patient's severe diarrhea.
- In the 19th century, paregoric was a common household remedy for stomach ailments.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Medical Context: Paregoric is an archaic term for a specific formulation that is now largely obsolete in modern medicine due to the controlled nature of its opioid component (opium).
- Paregoric is mentioned in historical medical texts as an anodyne for abdominal pain.
Variants and Related Words
- Tincture of Opium: A more general term for the medicinal preparation from which paregoric is derived.
- Camphorated Tincture of Opium: The full technical name for paregoric.
Synonyms
- Anti-diarrheal: A general term for medicines that treat diarrhea.
- Anodyne: (Archaic) A pain-relieving medicine, which describes one of paregoric's historical uses.
Notes on Usage
- Important: Paregoric contains opium and is a controlled substance. Its use is highly regulated, and it has been largely replaced by safer, non-opioid medications. The term is primarily encountered in historical or specific medical contexts.
Noun
- medicine used to treat diarrhea