anticonvulsant

adjective

an·​ti·​con·​vul·​sant
ˌan-tē-kən-ˈvəl-sənt,
ˌan-tī- How to pronounce anticonvulsant (audio)
variants or less commonly anticonvulsive
ˌan-tē-kən-ˈvəl-siv,
ˌan-tī- How to pronounce anticonvulsant (audio)
: used or tending to control or to prevent convulsions (as in epilepsy)
anticonvulsant noun
or less commonly anticonvulsive

Examples of anticonvulsant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This indirect activation can result in a range of reactions in the body, such as anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant effects. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2023 In agony and at times hallucinating because of an anticonvulsant one of his doctors prescribed, his shattered state infiltrated his prose and shaped the final tragic act of the novel, when one of the guests contracts Covid and has nightmarish visions. New York Times, 26 Oct. 2021 The Inspector General last November found 80% of Medicare nursing home residents were prescribed some type of psychotropic drug, a broad category that includes anticonvulsant or antipsychotic medications. Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2023 Children whose mothers take VPA (and to various degrees other similar drugs) during pregnancy often suffer various physical and behavioural problems, the fetal anticonvulsant syndrome. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2011 Many pet owners report good results using CBD oils alongside anticonvulsant medications. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022 Other anticonvulsant drugs, such as zonisamide and gabapentin, and a smoking cessation drug called varenicline have shown mixed results. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 18 Dec. 2022 Goal: Determine which of three anticonvulsant drugs most effectively treats seizures lasting more than 5 minutes. Charles Piller, Science | AAAS, 12 Aug. 2021 But despite that spinoff, the company still endured some ugly investigations into its work with anticonvulsant drug Depakote and other products. Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anticonvulsant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anticonvulsant was in 1696

Dictionary Entries Near anticonvulsant

Cite this Entry

“Anticonvulsant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticonvulsant. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

anticonvulsant

1 of 2 noun
an·​ti·​con·​vul·​sant -kən-ˈvəl-sənt How to pronounce anticonvulsant (audio)
variants also anticonvulsive
: an anticonvulsant drug

anticonvulsant

2 of 2 adjective
variants also anticonvulsive
: used or tending to control or prevent convulsions (as in epilepsy)
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