anticholinesterase

1 8.2

A drug that keeps a nerve chemical working longer to help muscles or glands

noun
/ˌæntiˌkoʊlɪnˈɛstərˌeɪs/

Specialized

: anticolinesterásico

Physostigmine is an anticholinesterase used in the treatment of glaucoma.

Examples

The doctor prescribed an anticholinesterase to improve nerve function.
The doctor prescribed an anticholinesterase to help manage the patient's muscle weakness.
Overdose of an anticholinesterase can result in toxic symptoms due to excess acetylcholine.
Many patients benefit from anticholinesterases for treating myasthenia gravis.
The doctor prescribed an anticholinesterase to improve the patient's muscle strength.
Using an anticholinesterase can help treat symptoms of certain neurological disorders.
Research on anticholinesterase agents has advanced treatments for myasthenia gravis.

Antonyms

cholinesterase

Specialized

1 9.1

A body enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in nerves

Surface Forms

anticholinesterase singular

anticholinesterases plural

Morphology

anticholinesterase = cholinesterase (opaque) = anti + cholinesterase

The word is built regularly from 'anti-' plus 'cholinesterase', but the base is a specialized technical term that most learners will not know.

Etymology

Anticholinesterase splits into anti- meaning 'against' and cholinesterase, the enzyme that 'breaks down' acetylcholine, a chemical that helps nerves tell muscles to move. So an anticholinesterase is a drug that works 'against' that enzyme and thus keeps more acetylcholine working in the body.