tricyclic
Definition
- Noun:
- A class of chemical compounds characterized by a molecular structure containing three interconnected rings of atoms.
- Specifically, an antidepressant medication belonging to this chemical class, which works by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor prescribed a tricyclic for her chronic depression.
- Tricyclics were among the first generation of modern antidepressant drugs.
- Due to its side effects, this particular tricyclic is less commonly used today.
Advanced Usage
- "Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)": This is the full, precise term used in medical contexts to distinguish these drugs from other classes like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).
- Amitriptyline is a well-known tricyclic antidepressant.
Variants and Related Words
- Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) (n): The full technical name for this class of drugs.
- Tetracyclic (adj/n): Referring to a related but distinct class of compounds and antidepressants characterized by a four-ring structure.
Synonyms
- TCA (abbreviation): The standard medical abbreviation for Tricyclic Antidepressant.
- Heterocyclic compound (broader term): A larger class of organic compounds containing rings of atoms, of which tricyclics are a subset.
Notes on Meaning
- The primary contemporary meaning of "tricyclic" is pharmacological. Its use almost always refers to tricyclic antidepressants.
- The term originates from organic chemistry ("tri-" meaning three, "-cyclic" meaning ring) describing the core three-ring structure shared by these compounds.
Noun
-
an antidepressant drug that acts by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin and thus making more of those substances available to act on receptors in the brain
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