glutethimide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “glutethimide” mean?
A sedative-hypnotic drug formerly used to treat insomnia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sedative-hypnotic drug formerly used to treat insomnia.
A synthetic compound of the piperidinedione class, acting as a central nervous system depressant, historically prescribed as a sleep aid but largely withdrawn due to safety concerns and abuse potential.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong connotations of outdated medical practice, drug abuse, and toxicity.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language in both regions. Usage is confined to specialized professional or historical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “glutethimide” in a Sentence
The patient was treated with glutethimide.Glutethimide acts as a depressant.Authorities banned glutethimide.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical reviews of pharmacology, toxicology papers, and studies on drug abuse trends.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context: medical literature, forensic toxicology reports, drug enforcement documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glutethimide”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glutethimide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glutethimide”
- Misspelling as 'glutethamide' or 'glutethemide'.
- Using it as a general term for any sedative.
- Pronouncing the 'th' as in 'thin' (/θ/) instead of as in 'this' (/ð/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has been largely withdrawn from clinical use worldwide due to safety concerns, including a high risk of overdose, dependence, and dangerous interactions with other substances.
It was most commonly marketed under the brand name Doriden.
Knowledge is important for medical historians, forensic scientists, and toxicologists who may encounter it in historical cases or older literature. It also serves as a case study in pharmaceutical regulation.
Modern sleep aids (like zolpidem) are designed to be more specific in their action and have shorter half-lives, aiming to reduce next-day drowsiness and overdose risk, though all sedative-hypnotics carry some risk.
A sedative-hypnotic drug formerly used to treat insomnia.
Glutethimide is usually technical/medical in register.
Glutethimide: in British English it is pronounced /ɡluːˈtɛθɪmʌɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡluˈtɛθəˌmaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms for this highly technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GLUE' + 'THE' + 'IMIDE' (a chemical suffix). It's a drug that was meant to 'glue' you to sleep, but its 'imide' structure made it problematic.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RELIC/ARTIFACT (of medical history).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'glutethimide' primarily used?