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antidepressant drug

antidepressant drug

3 3.2
A medicine that treats depression by changing chemicals in the brain
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈdɪprɛsənt drʌg/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fármaco antidepresivo
  • In reality, the newer antidepressant drugs are such a mainstay of treatment for depression that alternatives are rarely considered.
  • prescribed an antidepressant drug
  • take antidepressant drugs
  • antidepressant drug therapy

Examples

  • The doctor recommended an antidepressant drug to help manage her mood swings.

  • The psychiatrist had prescribed an antidepressant drug, but the patient's symptoms persisted.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Some people who take antidepressant drugs get significant side effects so that, at least at first, they feel a lot worse.

    Academic text (2011)
  • This analysis was performed according to the class of antidepressant drugs used in the intervention groups.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Several treatments are available for depression, and antidepressant drug therapy has proven effective for the treatment of symptoms.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Individual patients vary widely in their susceptibility to both the benefits and side effects of antidepressant drugs.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Few, if any, antidepressant drug treatments have been proven to work in the long term (specifically SSRIs).

    Blog text (26)
  • Psychotherapy looks as good or better at relieving depression, especially at one-year follow-ups, as antidepressant drugs.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Clinical trials completed with newer antidepressant drugs likewise reveal that these drugs are as effective as traditional antidepressants and are safer in terms of adverse side effects (Rush, 1998).

    Academic text (2006)
  • Many patients find that an antidepressant drug can significantly improve their quality of life.

Synonyms

Prozac
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
103 4.1

A medicine that helps reduce depression and anxiety by changing brain chemicals

is the general medicine label rather than a trademarked brand name
antidepressant
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
61 3.4

A medicine that treats depression by changing chemicals in the brain

has the same meaning but uses the two word phrase form
SSRI
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
5 4.1

A medicine that treats depression by increasing a brain chemical called serotonin

is the broad drug term for treating depression rather than this mechanism
ketamine
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
2 4.9

A fast-acting medicine given in low doses to treat severe depression when other medicines do not work

is the general medicine term, not this rapid or hospital-administered option
fluoxetine
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A medicine used to treat depression and some anxiety by changing chemicals in the brain

refers broadly to depression medicines rather than this single chemical
sertraline
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A medicine used to treat depression and anxiety

is the general drug term for depression rather than this particular medicine
amitriptyline
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A medicine doctors give to treat depression and some long-term nerve pain

is the broad medicine term rather than this tricyclic with stronger side effects
tricyclic antidepressant
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A medicine that treats depression by raising levels of mood chemicals in the brain

is the overall drug category for depression rather than this specific class
trazodone
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A medicine that treats depression and helps you sleep

is the broad medicine term for treating depression rather than this sedating type
monoamine oxidase inhibitor
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A medicine that blocks an enzyme in the brain to raise mood chemicals

is the wide drug category for treating depression, not this specific enzyme blocker
selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A medicine that treats depression by raising a brain chemical called serotonin

is the general drug label rather than this specific pharmacological class
tricyclic antidepressant drug
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A medicine for depression that raises mood chemicals in the brain like serotonin and norepinephrine

is the general name for medicines treating depression rather than this subtype
imipramine
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A medicine used to treat depression and sometimes anxiety or bedwetting in children

is the general drug label rather than this particular tricyclic medicine
tricyclic
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
8.6

A medicine used to treat depression that raises some brain chemicals

is the wider drug term, not limited to this chemical action
nontricyclic antidepressant drug
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
7.4

A medicine for depression that is not a tricyclic and works in a different way from some older drugs

is the general drug term rather than any specific exclusion or class
nontricyclic drug
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
8.4

A medicine for depression that is not tricyclic and does not block monoamine oxidase

is the broad label for depression medicines, not this exclusionary group
MAOI
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
7.7

A medicine for depression that changes chemicals in the brain

is the general medicine term rather than this enzyme inhibiting type
fluoxetine hydrochloride
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
5.2

A medicine that treats depression and some anxiety by changing chemicals in the brain

is the broad term for depression medicines rather than this specific salt form
reboxetine
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
9.3

A medicine for depression that helps the brain keep more mood chemicals

is the general medicine label rather than this norepinephrine specific type
ketamine hydrochloride
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
6.5

A medicine given in low doses that works quickly to reduce severe depression when other treatments fail

is the general drug label rather than this specific formulation and use
nefazodone
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
9.9

A medicine used to treat depression

is the general term for depression medicines rather than this branded option
nortriptyline
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
8.8

A medicine used to treat depression and some mood problems

is the general medicine label rather than this specific tricyclic drug
amitriptyline hydrochloride
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
8.3

A medicine for depression and some nerve pain that can cause serious side effects and mix with other medicines

is the general drug term, not this specific chemical salt form
desipramine
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
8.7

A medicine used to treat depression and sometimes to help people with ADHD

is the general medicine term rather than this tricyclic used for specific conditions
perphenazine
vsantidepressant drug
  • Specialized
9.8

A medicine doctors use to treat serious mental problems and sometimes stop vomiting

is the general drug label rather than this sedating tranquilizer with varied uses

Surface Forms

Morphology

antidepressant + drug

The meaning is fully compositional: 'antidepressant' denotes a medication for depression and 'drug' denotes a medicinal chemical, so together they plainly refer to a medication that treats depression. This follows a regular noun–noun modification pattern found across languages, making the phrase immediately understandable to learners who know both constituents.

Etymology

Antidepressant drug is much like its parts: anti- means 'against', depressant relates to 'depression' or being very sad, and drug means medicine. So the term means a medicine that works against 'depression'.