tranquilizer

/ˈtræŋkwɪlaɪzər/

/ˈtræŋkwɪlaɪzə/

Other forms: tranquilizers

A medication that's used to relax patients is called a tranquilizer. If someone suffers from severe anxiety, their doctor might prescribe a tranquilizer.

The word tranquilizer is commonly used for anti-anxiety or anti-psychotic drugs, but it's not the term most medical professionals use. They are much more likely to use sedative, neuroleptic, or anxiolytic for a calming medication. Tranquilizer, from tranquility or "the state of being calm," was first used for sedatives in 1824, and for anti-anxiety drugs in 1954.

Definitions of tranquilizer

1. noun

   a drug used to reduce stress or tension without reducing mental clarity
   synonyms: antianxiety agent, ataractic, ataractic agent, ataractic drug, tranquilliser, tranquillizer

   types:

   antipsychotic, antipsychotic agent, antipsychotic drug, major tranquilizer, major tranquilliser, major tranquillizer, neuroleptic, neuroleptic agent, neuroleptic drug

   tranquilizer used to treat psychotic conditions when a calming effect is desired

   antianxiety drug, anxiolytic, anxiolytic drug, minor tranquilizer, minor tranquilliser, minor tranquillizer

   a tranquilizer used to relieve anxiety and reduce tension and irritability

   benzodiazepine

   any of several similar lipophilic amines used as tranquilizers or sedatives or hypnotics or muscle relaxants; chronic use can lead to dependency

   BuSpar, buspirone

   a drug (trade name BuSpar) designed specifically for anxiety

   Thorazine, chlorpromazine

   a drug (trade name Thorazine) derived from phenothiazine that has antipsychotic effects and is used as a sedative and tranquilizer

   Clozaril, clozapine

   an antipsychotic drug (trade name Clozaril) used as a sedative and for treatment-resistant schizophrenia; know to have few side effects

   diphenylbutyl piperidine

   a group of antipsychotic drugs used mainly in the treatment of schizophrenia

   fluphenazine

   tranquilizer used to treat psychotic disorders

   Dalmane, flurazepam, flurazepam hydrochloride

   tranquilizer (trade name Dalmane) used to treat insomnia

   Haldol, haloperidol

   tranquilizer (trade name Haldol) used to treat some psychotic disorders and Tourette's syndrome

   Atarax, Vistaril, hydroxyzine, hydroxyzine hydrochloride

   a drug (trade names Atarax and Vistaril) used as a tranquilizer to treat anxiety and motion sickness

   Loxitane, loxapine

   a tranquilizer (trade name Loxitane) used to treat schizophrenia

   Equanil, Meprin, Miltown, meprobamate

   a sedative and tranquilizer (trade name Miltown and Equanil and Meprin) used to treat muscle tension and anxiety

   Moban, molindone

   antipsychotic drug (trade name Moban) used in the treatment of schizophrenia

   Serax, oxazepam

   a tranquilizing drug (trade name Serax) used to treat anxiety and insomnia and alcohol withdrawal

   Triavil, perphenazine

   tranquilizer and antidepressant (trade name Triavil) sometimes used as an antiemetic for adults

   prochlorperazine

   antipsychotic and antiemetic drug used to treat schizophrenia and to combat nausea and vomiting

   Mellaril, thioridazine

   a tranquilizer (trade name Mellaril) used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

   Navane, thiothixene

   a tranquilizer (trade name Navane) used to treat schizophrenia

   Eskalith, Lithane, Lithonate, lithium, lithium carbonate

   a white powder (LiCO3) used in manufacturing glass and ceramics and as a drug; the drug (trade names Lithane or Lithonate or Eskalith) is used to treat some forms of depression and manic episodes of manic-depressive disorder

   type of:

   psychotropic agent

   a chemical substance that can influence human consciousness

   sedative-hypnotic, sedative-hypnotic drug

   a sedative that depresses activity of the central nervous system and reduces anxiety and induces sleep