Back in bed holding a medicine bottle (5)
I believe the answer is:
tonic
'a medicine bottle' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'back in bed holding' is the wordplay.
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'bed' becomes 'cot' (cot is a type of bed).
'holding' is an insertion indicator.
'in' inserted into 'cot' is 'cinot'.
'cinot' back-to-front is 'TONIC'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tonic that I've seen before include "something medicinal" , "that may be mixed with gin" , "shot in the arm" , "Stimulant" , "Invigorating drink" .)