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tricyclic antidepressant

noun

Definition of tricyclic antidepressant

:any of a group of antidepressant drugs (such as imipramine and amitriptyline) that contain three fused benzene rings, potentiate the action of catecholamines (such as norepinephrine and serotonin) by inhibiting their uptake by nerve endings, and do not inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase — called also tricyclic

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First Known Use of tricyclic antidepressant

1966

Medical Dictionary

tricyclic antidepressant

noun

medical Definition of tricyclic antidepressant

:any of a group of antidepressant drugs (as imipramine, amitriptyline, desipramine, and nortriptyline) that contain three fused benzene rings, that potentiate the action of catecholamines (as norepinephrine and serotonin) by inhibiting their uptake by nerve endings, and that do not inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase

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