Definition

A type of medication used to treat depression and certain other conditions, which works by affecting chemicals in the brain.

Example

The doctor prescribed amitriptyline to help manage her chronic pain and improve her mood.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of amitriptyline?

Yeah, I think it's used to treat depression, right?

Exactly! I read that it can also help with pain relief.

That's interesting! I didn't know it had multiple uses.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Amitriptyline is derived from the combination of "amino" (from Latin *aminus*, meaning nitrogen-containing) and "triptyline" (from the Greek *triptus*, meaning threefold, and *-ine*, a suffix used in chemistry for substances). The word refers to a chemical compound that contains nitrogen and is related to a three-ring structure, commonly used as an antidepressant.

Memory Tip

Think of 'amino' as relating to nitrogen and 'triptyline' as a threefold structure, which helps you remember that amitriptyline is a nitrogen-containing compound with a complex structure used in medicine.

Visually Confused Words