tincture of opium

Thân thiện

A pharmacist carefully measures a tincture of opium into a small glass bottle.

Definition

Noun A medicinal preparation consisting of opium dissolved in alcohol. It is a narcotic solution where opium is the primary active ingredient, historically used for its analgesic and sedative properties.

Usage

"Tincture of opium" is a specific pharmaceutical term. It is used as a singular, countable noun to refer to the prepared solution itself. * The 19th-century physician prescribed tincture of opium for severe pain and diarrhea. * A bottle of tincture of opium was found in the antique medical kit. * The formulation of the tincture of opium was standardized to contain a precise concentration of alkaloids.

Advanced Usage

• Laudanum: This is a historical and common synonym for a tincture of opium, often flavored with spices. It was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • The poet was said to have taken laudanum, a tincture of opium, to aid his creativity.
• Deodorized Tincture of Opium (DTO): A specific, modern pharmaceutical preparation where certain alkaloids are removed, leaving primarily the antidiarrheal components.
  • In contemporary medicine, deodorized tincture of opium is sometimes used for severe, persistent diarrhea.

Variants and Related Words

• Opium Tincture: An alternative word order with the same meaning.
• Laudanum (n.): A historical term for a tincture of opium.
• Paregoric (n.): Another historical preparation, which is a camphorated tincture of opium, used primarily to treat cough and diarrhea.

Synonyms

• Laudanum
• Opium tincture
• Opium solution (in alcohol)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to an alcoholic solution. It is distinct from raw opium or other opium preparations like powdered opium or opium extracts. Its primary historical uses were as a pain reliever (analgesic), cough suppressant, and treatment for severe diarrhea. It is a controlled substance due to its addictive potential.

Học thuật

Noun

1. narcotic consisting of an alcohol solution of opium or any preparation in which opium is the main ingredient

Từ đồng nghĩa

• laudanum