Combination drug

For more common combination drugs, see WHO Model List of Essential Medicines.

This article is about combination drugs and polypills as treatments. For two synergistic drugs chemically linked together, see codrug. For use of multiple separate and individual drugs for treatment, see polypharmacy.

A combination drug or drug cocktail is most simply defined as a chemical composition of at least two drugs combined in a single dosage form, typically as a tablet or capsule to be administered orally, an elixir or tincture (sublingual), an injectable suspension (intramuscular administration or intravenous therapy), or a suppository (rectal). A legitimate combination drug that exceeds rigorous laboratory quality standards and is approved for medical use is a safe option for treating multiple symptoms or diseases amongst various patients within a large population–and this includes combinations of over-the-counter medicine and/or of prescription drugs. One example of a drug cocktail is a drug regiment in antiviral-therapy (ART); PReP, used HIV transmission prophylaxis or HIV/AIDS symptoms, is a combination drug.

When medications are paired with supplements, consumers can be certain of accurate dosing and ingredient labeling, as well as product quality as it would be regulated and manufactured as a medication and must meet rigorous standards of pharmaceutical quality.