antipsychotic

[ an-tee-sahy-kot-ik, an-tahy- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to any of various substances used in the treatment of psychosis, especially schizophrenia, and acute or severe states of mania, depression, or paranoia.

noun

1. Also called ma·jor tran·quil·iz·er [mey, -jer , trang, -kw, uh, -lahy-zer],. any such substance, as the phenothiazines.

antipsychotic

/ ˌæntɪsaɪˈkɒtɪk /

adjective

1. preventing or treating psychosis

noun

1. any antipsychotic drug, such as chlorpromazine: used to treat such conditions as schizophrenia

Word History and Origins

Origin of antipsychotic¹

First recorded in 1950–55; anti- + psychotic

Example Sentences

Jail medical staff had treated Solis for schizophrenia, including with antipsychotic medication.

From Los Angeles Times

One study of children born in Denmark between 2008 and 2017, for example, showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, antipsychotics during the first trimester did not increase the risk of congenital malformations.

From Salon

Ms Hemme was interrogated by police several times under the influence of antipsychotic medication and a powerful sedative after being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital.

From BBC

Researchers also found an increased risk of having a ruptured brain aneurysm for people taking four drugs: the blood thinner warfarin; the antidepressant venlafaxine; the antipsychotic and antiemetic drug prochlorperazine; and the painkiller co-codamol.

From Science Daily

Upset that Ezra might be medicated with antipsychotics and placed in a special education school, Max assesses that the doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the state are in collusion to keep him and his son apart.

From Los Angeles Times