cyclobenzaprine

n. a drug used for the treatment of acute skeletal muscle spasm (see muscle relaxant). Structurally related to the tricyclic antidepressants, it has many features in common with them, including sedation and significant anticholinergic effects. Low doses are moderately effective in treating fibromyalgia. Because of its resemblance to the tricyclic drugs, cyclobenzaprine should not be taken concurrently with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. U.S. trade name: Flexeril.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 17th 2024

opioid antagonist

an agent that acts as an antagonist at opioid receptors. Generally, opioid antagonists are synthetic derivatives of morphine that, as a result of structural changes in the molecule, bind to opioid receptors but do not produce the effects of euphoria, respiratory depression, or analgesia that are observed with opioid agonists. Opioid antagonists may be complete (pure) or mixed. Complete antagonists, such as naloxone, naltrexone, nalmefene (U.S. trade name: Revex), and nalorphine, are generally used to reverse the effects of opiate overdose (notably respiratory depression). Mixed agonist–antagonist opioids, such as butorphanol and pentazocine (U.S. trade name: Talwin), were developed in attempts to produce opioid analgesics that did not possess the abuse potential of opioid agonists. Also called narcotic antagonist.