ˌsympatholytic, a. Med.
(-ˈlɪtɪk)
[f. sympatho- + -lytic.]
Annulling or opposing the transmission of nerve impulses in the sympathetic system. Also symˌpathicoˈlytic a., in the same sense.
| 1947, 1948 Sympathicolytic [see adreno-]. 1951 Sympatholytic [see dioxan]. 1952 Acta Endocrinol. IX. 116 The alarm reaction caused by adrenaline..can be counteracted by using a sympathicolytic agent. 1954 Brit. Jrnl. Pharmacol. IX. 236 The assay of sympatholytic (anti-adrenaline) drugs. 1961 Lancet 26 Aug. 475/1 Failures of wholly different origin are those due to administration of sympatholytic or ganglion-blocking drugs. 1977 Ibid. 19 Mar. 650/2 The medical treatment of essential hypertension is currently based almost exclusively on sympatholytic drugs of one kind or another on the assumption that the disease is caused by over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system. |