pseudoephedrine
Noun: 1. A decongestant drug: Pseudoephedrine is a synthetic medication used to relieve nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, or sinusitis. It works by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages. 2. A chemical compound: In chemistry, pseudoephedrine is a specific crystalline alkaloid, structurally similar to ephedrine but with a different spatial arrangement of atoms (isomer).
- Noun (Medical Context):
- The pharmacist recommended a medication containing pseudoephedrine for my stuffy nose.
- Pseudoephedrine is often found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines.
- Noun (Chemical Context):
- The laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of pseudoephedrine in the sample.
- Legal and Regulatory Context: Due to its potential use in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine is often restricted and requires identification or is kept behind the pharmacy counter in many countries.
- You must show your driver's license to purchase any product with pseudoephedrine.
- Ephedrine (noun): A related alkaloid with similar decongestant properties, often derived from the Ephedra plant.
- Decongestant (noun): A general term for a type of drug, like pseudoephedrine, that relieves nasal congestion.
- Nasal decongestant (in the medical/pharmacological context)
The word has two primary, closely related meanings: 1. The pharmacological/medical meaning refers to its common use as an active ingredient in decongestant medicines. 2. The chemical meaning describes its specific molecular structure as an alkaloid isomer of ephedrine. The reference context highlights this chemical definition, noting its poisonous nature in pure, concentrated form and its structural relationship to ephedrine.
- poisonous crystalline alkaloid occurring with ephedrine and isomorphic with it