Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
ethacrynic acid

ethacrynic acid

1 7.4
A medicine that helps the body remove extra water and is used when someone is allergic to sulfa drugs
  • noun
  • /ˌɛθəˈkrɪnɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido etacrínico
  • Patients who are allergic to sulfa drugs may be prescribed ethacrynic acid as a diuretic alternative.

Examples

  • The doctor adjusted the dosage of ethacrynic acid to treat the patient's persistent edema.

  • Prolonged use of ethacrynic acid can sometimes cause hearing problems as a side effect.

  • Doctors often prescribe ethacrynic acid for patients with heart failure.

  • Have you ever heard of ethacrynic acid?

  • Patients who are allergic to sulfa drugs may be prescribed ethacrynic acid as a diuretic alternative.

  • The doctor adjusted the dosage of ethacrynic acid to treat the patient's persistent edema.

  • Prolonged use of ethacrynic acid can sometimes cause hearing problems as a side effect.

Synonyms

Edecrin
vsethacrynic acid
  • Specialized
9.8

A drug that helps the body remove extra water to reduce swelling

is the generic drug used when patients are allergic to sulfa drugs

Surface Forms

ethacrynic acid singular
ethacrynic acids plural

Morphology

ethacrynic + acid

The headword 'ethacrynic' is a non-transparent, technical name (not analyzable by a learner) and knowing 'acid' only signals a chemical class, not that the item is a diuretic drug used for edema. The medicinal/function meaning is arbitrary and language- or jargon-specific, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not be able to derive the MWE's therapeutic sense.

Etymology

Ethacrynic acid probably comes from combining eth- (a short chemical part) with acrynic (from 'acrylic') and the word acid, so it is basically a chemical label. That's why the name refers to the medicine used as a 'diuretic' (a drug that makes you pass water) and is often given when someone is allergic to 'sulfa' drugs.