antidepressant

play

adjective an·ti·de·pres·sant \-di-ˈpre-s^ənt\

Definition of antidepressant

: used or tending to relieve or prevent depression antidepressant drugs

Recent Examples of antidepressant from the Web

Past research has indicated that ketamine blocks this receptor, which seems to trigger psychedelic and antidepressant effects.

— mandy oaklander, Time, "There's More Proof That Ketamine Works for Depression," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antidepressant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of antidepressant

1961

antidepressant

noun an·ti·de·pres·sant

Definition of antidepressant

: an antidepressant drug — see ssri, tricyclic antidepressant

See antidepressant defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of antidepressant from the Web

Jalpa A. Doshi, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, has examined how Americans with commercial insurance respond to cost-sharing for antidepressants.

— don sapatkin, Philly.com, "Study suggests why more skin-in-the-game won't fix Medicaid," 19 July 2017
The antidepressant Prozac, a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor (or SSRI), is one of the world's most widely used medications.

— los angeles times, OregonLive.com, "Could Prozac be a treatment for children with autism?," 22 June 2017
Further complicating matters is the fact that some studies have linked SSRIs in general -- and Prozac in particular -- to higher rates of autism in babies who were exposed to the antidepressants in utero.

— los angeles times, OregonLive.com, "Could Prozac be a treatment for children with autism?," 22 June 2017
That precise placement may be key, because some other drugs that block the NMDA receptor haven’t shown antidepressant effects.

— mandy oaklander, Time, "There's More Proof That Ketamine Works for Depression," 21 June 2017
Mason Turner, the assistant director of Regional Mental Health Services for Kaiser in Northern California, says that ketamine is more than just a great antidepressant—

— rene chun, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside the Los Angeles Clinic That Uses Ketamine to Treat Depression," 19 June 2017
At the time of Roy’s death, Carter was taking Celexa, an antidepressant Breggin said targets the brain’s frontal lobe, which controls empathy and decision-making.

— denise lavoie, Twin Cities, "Woman who sent texts urging suicide guilty of manslaughter," 16 June 2017
At the time of Roy's death, Carter was taking Celexa, an antidepressant Breggin said targets the brain's frontal lobe, which controls empathy and decision-making.

— drew broach, NOLA.com, "2 inmates escape federal prison in central Louisiana: report," 16 June 2017
Michelle had her own struggles, including an eating disorder, and both teens, at times, took antidepressants.

— erin moriarty, CBS News, "Death by Text: The case against Michelle Carter," 16 June 2017

First Known Use of antidepressant

1962

ANTIDEPRESSANT Defined for English Language Learners

antidepressant

noun

Definition of antidepressant for English Language Learners

medical : a drug that is used to relieve or prevent depression in a person

Medical Dictionary

antidepressant

play

adjective an·ti·de·pres·sant \ˌant-i-di-ˈpres-^ənt, ˌan-ˌtī-\

variants: also

antidepressive

\-ˈpres-iv\play

Medical Definition of antidepressant

: used or tending to relieve or prevent psychological depression : relating to, being, or utilizing an antidepressant an antidepressant drug antidepressant treatment

antidepressant

noun an·ti·de·pres·sant

variants: also

antidepressive

Medical Definition of antidepressant

: a drug used to treat psychological depression : an antidepressant drug The dual-action antidepressant venlafaxine appears to demonstrate superior efficacy and higher rates of remission in severe depression as compared with either SSRIs such as fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants.—John Mann, The New England Journal of Medicine, 27 Oct. 2005—called also energizer, psychic energizer, psychostimulant; see tricyclic antidepressant