antipsychotic

[ an-tee-sahy-kot-ik, an-tahy- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to any of various substances used in the treatment of psychosis, especially schizophrenia, and acute or severe states of mania, depression, or paranoia.

noun

1. Also called ma·jor tran·quil·iz·er [mey, -jer , trang, -kw, uh, -lahy-zer],. any such substance, as the phenothiazines.

antipsychotic

/ ˌæntɪsaɪˈkɒtɪk /

adjective

1. preventing or treating psychosis

noun

1. any antipsychotic drug, such as chlorpromazine: used to treat such conditions as schizophrenia

Word History and Origins

Origin of antipsychotic¹

First recorded in 1950–55; anti- + psychotic

Example Sentences

Some antidepressants and antipsychotics can affect sweat production, while drugs for treating heart disease, such as ACE inhibitors, can cause dehydration and affect the kidneys.

From Time

These include some muscle relaxants commonly used to treat pain, benzodiazepines commonly used to treat anxiety or poor sleep and some antipsychotics commonly used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

From Popular-Science

The US government accused Janssen of improperly promoting the antipsychotic drug Risperdal to dementia patients despite the drug increasing deaths in the elderly.

From MIT Technology Review

Low staffing levels are tied to worse treatment for residents, such as the overprescription of antipsychotic drugs, and increase the risk of injuries.

From Time

Certain medications, like antipsychotics and blood pressure pills, can throw internal thermostats out of whack.

From Popular-Science

[It] does not resemble standard antipsychotic, antidepressant, antianxiety or hypnotic drugs in simple drug interaction tests.

From The Daily Beast

The district court compared this cost to the cost of a common antipsychotic drug used to treat many DOC inmates.

From The Daily Beast

The latest pharmaceutical being sold on the street is a knock-you-out antipsychotic called Seroquel.

From The Daily Beast

Some people with psychotic symptoms may need to take antipsychotic medication for only a few weeks or months.

From Project Gutenberg

The antipsychotic drugs, or neuroleptics, reduce the brain's sensitivity to one or more of these chemical substances.

From Project Gutenberg

If not checked with antipsychotic medication, they become violent.

From Project Gutenberg