| phenobarbital elixir | A palatable, coloured hydroalcoholic (12-15% alcohol) mixture containing 20 mg of phenobarbital per 5 ml (teaspoonful); useful in administering the drug to persons who have difficulty swallowing tablets; used as an anticonvulsant and sedative. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| phenobarbital | <chemical> A barbiturate used as a sedative and an anticonvulsant. It was used as an anti-anxiety agent but has been supplanted by benzodiazepines for that purpose. It may also be useful in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and in the symptomatic treatment of opiate withdrawal in mothers and infants. Pharmacological action: anticonvulsants, gaba modulators, sedatives, barbiturate. Chemical name: 2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-Pyrimidinetrione, 5-ethyl-5-phenyl- (12 Dec 1998) |
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| elixir | 1. <medicine> A tincture with more than one base; a compound tincture or medicine, composed of various substances, held in solution by alcohol in some form. 2. <chemistry> An imaginary liquor capable of transmuting metals into gold; also, one for producing life indefinitely; as, elixir vitae, or the elixir of life. 3. The refined spirit; the quintessence. "The . . . Elixir of worldly delights." (South) 4. Any cordial or substance which invigorates. "The grand elixir, to support the spirits of human nature." (Addison) Origin: F. Elixir, Sp. Elixir, Ar. Eliksir the philosopher's stone, prob. From Gr. Dry, (hence probably) a dry powder; cf. Skr. Ksha to burn. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |