antidepressant

[an-tee-di-pres-uh nt, an-tahy-]Pharmacology

adjective

of or relating to a substance that is used in the treatment of mood disorders, as characterized by various manic or depressive affects.

noun

Also called energizer, psychic energizer. any such substance, as a tricyclic antidepressant, MAO inhibitor, or lithium.

Also an·ti-de·pres·sant, an·ti·de·pres·sive [an-tee-di-pres-iv, an-tahy-] /ˌæn ti dɪˈprɛs ɪv, ˌæn taɪ-/.

Origin of antidepressant

First recorded in 1960–65; anti- + depressant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for antidepressant

Contemporary Examples of antidepressant

However, it can interfere seriously with blood thinners and should never be taken with other antidepressant drugs.
Fish Oil, Turmeric, and Ginseng, Oh My! Are ‘Brain Foods’ B.S.?
Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD
October 10, 2014
She began to attend therapy and to see a psychiatrist, who prescribed an antidepressant.
One Breakdown Can Mean Losing Your Kid Forever
ProPublica
May 30, 2014
[It] does not resemble standard antipsychotic, antidepressant, antianxiety or hypnotic drugs in simple drug interaction tests.
How Pfizer Helped Make ‘Spice,’ The Deadly Fake Pot
Abby Haglage
May 17, 2014
“A doctor would never prescribe more than one antidepressant,” says Dr. Frank Vaccaro, a prominent New York psychiatrist.
Did Antidepressants Contribute to Mary Richardson Kennedy’s Suicide?
Laurence Leamer
July 8, 2012
"Antidepressant drugs, for me, they're like antibiotics ," he says.
Do Antidepressants Make You Sad?
Casey Schwartz
June 15, 2011

British Dictionary definitions for antidepressant

antidepressant

noun

any of a class of drugs used to alleviate depression

adjective

of or relating to this class of drugs

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for antidepressant

1876, from anti- + depressant.

antidepressant in Medicine