tricyclic antidepressant
1
5.8
- noun
- /ˌtraɪˈsaɪklɪk ˌæntiˈdɪprɛsənt/
- Specialized
:
antidepresivo tricíclico
- Often low dose tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed to help with the pain of IBS.
- tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Often low dose tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed to help with the pain of IBS.
- Often low dose tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed to help with the pain of IBS.
- The SSRI worked by distinct mechanisms from the tricyclic antidepressants in the Mao inhibitors.
Examples
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If sleep is an issue, then the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline is worth a try.
Academic text (2012) -
All had previously been started on tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants for painful neuropathy, although in some cases these had been stopped because of side effects.
Academic text (1996) -
An 80-year-old white woman who was taking the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline developed a dermatologic allergic reaction to an insect bite.
Academic text (1999) -
Lactulose is not recommended. If laxatives, antispasmodics, or antimotility medication are not effective, a low dose tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) can be tried.
Academic text (2012) -
NICE recommends offering amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant) or duloxetine (an SNRI) for all neuropathic pain except for trigeminal neuralgia. (Box 4)
Academic text (2012) -
A tricyclic antidepressant like amitriptyline can help alleviate symptoms of depression.
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Doctors often prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant for patients experiencing chronic pain.
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When treating depression, a tricyclic antidepressant may be more effective than other types of medication.
Synonyms
61
3.4
A medicine that treats depression by changing chemicals in the brain
3
3.2
A medicine that treats depression by changing chemicals in the brain
1
6.8
A medicine for depression that raises mood chemicals in the brain like serotonin and norepinephrine
A medicine used to treat depression that raises some brain chemicals
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase: 'tricyclic' characterizes a chemical feature (tri- = three, cyclic = ring-like) and 'antidepressant' names a drug for depression, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a type/class of antidepressant. The expression is not idiomatic or metaphorical and follows regular compounding patterns, making its meaning transparent to learners familiar with the parts.
Etymology
The term tricyclic antidepressant comes from the drug's shape: tri means three and cyclic means 'ring-shaped', because the molecule has three connected rings. So the name simply describes this type of 'antidepressant'.