Amitriptyline

/ˌæmɪˈtrɪptəliːn/ noun

Definition

A tricyclic antidepressant medication used to treat depression, anxiety, and chronic pain conditions.

Etymology

From 'amino-' + 'tri-' (three) + 'cyclic' + '-ine' (chemical compound), referring to its three-ring molecular structure. The drug was synthesized in the 1960s and named according to pharmaceutical nomenclature conventions.

Kelly Says

Amitriptyline is one of the older antidepressants (developed in 1961) but it's still widely prescribed today, especially for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia—it's a rare case where an older drug remains medically relevant despite newer alternatives.

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