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Glite Dictionary
sympathomimetic

sympathomimetic

9.9
A medicine or chemical that makes the body act as if it has adrenaline
  • adjective
  • /ˌsɪmpəθoʊˈmɪmətɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : simpaticomimético
  • Many sympathomimetic substances can mimic the effects of adrenaline, leading to heightened alertness and energy.

Examples

  • The abuse of NPS has been linked to violence and aggression, sympathomimetic symptoms, acute organ failure, psychosis, as well as fatalities.

    Academic text (2016)

  • There are reports of sympathomimetic medications and one case of sildenafil citrate causing CSCR; however, few medications have been found to have such a causal relationship.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The doctor prescribed a sympathomimetic drug to help increase the patient's heart rate during the emergency.

  • His symptoms included increased heart rate and perspiration, typical effects of a sympathomimetic response.

Synonyms

adrenergic
vssympathomimetic
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Relating to nerve cells or receptors that respond to adrenaline

produces body responses similar to sympathetic nerve stimulation rather than describing receptors

Antonyms

sympatholytic
  • Specialized
9.9

A drug that reduces the body's stress response

Surface Forms

sympathomimetic positive

Morphology

sympathomimetic = mimetic (semi-transparent) = sympatho + mimetic

The form 'sympatho-' (referring to the sympathetic nervous system) combined with 'mimetic' ('imitating') directly reflects the technical meaning, but both elements are specialised medical/technical forms not familiar to average learners.

Etymology

Sympathomimetic combines sympatho-, the same root as sympathy meaning 'feeling with' and used for the body's 'sympathetic' system, and -mimetic, like mimic, meaning 'to copy'. So a sympathomimetic drug 'copies' the actions of the body's 'sympathetic' system and acts like adrenaline to raise heart rate or open airways.