dihydroergotamine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “dihydroergotamine” mean?
A semi-synthetic ergot alkaloid used as a medication to treat and prevent severe migraine and cluster headaches.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A semi-synthetic ergot alkaloid used as a medication to treat and prevent severe migraine and cluster headaches.
A specific vasoconstrictive drug derived from ergotamine, acting primarily on serotonin receptors to constrict blood vessels in the brain and relieve migraine pain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. The drug name is standardised internationally.
Connotations
Purely medical/pharmaceutical. No differential connotations between regions.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined strictly to medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “dihydroergotamine” in a Sentence
The patient was treated with [dihydroergotamine].[Dihydroergotamine] is administered for [severe migraine].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dihydroergotamine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The dihydroergotamine preparation is kept in the fridge.
- She is on a dihydroergotamine regimen.
American English
- The dihydroergotamine formulation is refrigerated.
- He was started on dihydroergotamine therapy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in pharmacology and neurology research papers discussing migraine therapeutics.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in clinical medicine, pharmacy, and pharmaceutical literature for the specific drug.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dihydroergotamine”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dihydroergotamine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dihydroergotamine”
- Misspelling as 'dihydergotamine' or 'dihydroergotomine'.
- Confusing it with the related compound 'ergotamine'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a hydrogenated derivative of ergotamine, often considered to have a better side-effect profile for acute migraine treatment.
It can be given intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or as a nasal spray, but not orally due to poor bioavailability.
A common brand name is Migranal (nasal spray) or D.H.E. 45 (injection).
It is a potent prescription medication with significant side effects and contraindications (e.g., coronary artery disease), reserved for severe, diagnosed migraine or cluster headaches.
A semi-synthetic ergot alkaloid used as a medication to treat and prevent severe migraine and cluster headaches.
Dihydroergotamine is usually technical/medical in register.
Dihydroergotamine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʌɪhʌɪdrəʊərˈɡɒtəmiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /daɪˌhaɪdroʊərˈɡɑːtəmiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DI (two) + HYDRO (hydrogen) + ERGOT (the fungus source) + AMINE (chemical compound) = a two-hydrogen-added version of ergotamine.
Practice
Quiz
Dihydroergotamine is primarily classified as a: