Definition

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

Example

The doctor prescribed nortriptyline to help manage her depression.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of nortriptyline?

Yeah, I think it’s an antidepressant, right?

Exactly! I read it can help with anxiety too.

That’s interesting. I’ve never tried nortriptyline myself.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nortriptyline is derived from the word 'triptyline' (which comes from the chemical structure of the compound) with the prefix 'nor-' (meaning a derivative that has lost a methyl group). The word refers to a specific type of antidepressant medication that is a derivative of the original triptyline compound.

Memory Tip

Think of 'nor-' as indicating a modified version of the original compound 'triptyline', which helps you remember that nortriptyline is a derivative of triptyline used for treating depression.

Visually Confused Words