Definition

A type of medication that helps increase the levels of a certain chemical in the body, used to treat conditions like muscle weakness and certain bladder or bowel issues.

Example

The doctor prescribed neostigmine to help manage the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of neostigmine?

I think I read about it in a medical article once.

Yeah, it's used to treat conditions like myasthenia gravis.

Right! It helps with muscle strength, which is pretty fascinating.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Neostigmine is formed from "neo-" (meaning new) and "stigmine" (derived from the Greek "stigmos" meaning mark or point, and the suffix "-ine" which is often used in chemistry to denote substances). The word refers to a new type of stigmine, a class of drugs used to treat myasthenia gravis by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, thus enhancing neuromuscular transmission.

Memory Tip

Think of 'neo-' meaning new, and 'stigmine' relating to a specific type of drug that marks a new approach in treatment. This helps you remember that neostigmine is a new drug in the stigmine class.

Visually Confused Words