Definition

A type of medication used to treat depression, belonging to a class of drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants.

Example

The doctor prescribed desipramine to help manage her depression.

Conversation

Have you heard about desipramine?

Yeah, I read it's used for treating depression.

I wonder how effective desipramine really is compared to other medications.

I think it varies from person to person, but some find it quite helpful.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Desipramine is derived from the prefix 'des-' (meaning to reverse or remove) and 'ipramine', which is a modification of 'imipramine', a compound name that does not have a specific root meaning but is related to the tricyclic antidepressant class. The word describes a specific medication that acts as a tricyclic antidepressant, reversing depressive symptoms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'des-' as meaning to remove or reverse something, which helps you remember that desipramine is a medication used to alleviate depression.

Visually Confused Words