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Reference.org
Combination drug
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<p>A combination drug, fixed-dose combination drug, and a polypill are all forms of medicinal preparation composed of two or more substances as <a href="/facts/Active_ingredients/oeDx5S19">active ingredients</a> in a single <a href="/facts/Dosage_form/ahtNIMrF">dosage form</a>. The fixed-dose combination drug is most common, whereby each ingredient is standardized to fixed dosing specifications. Fixed-dose combinations are <a href="/facts/Mass_production/31Cmgjuc">mass-produced</a> and <a href="/facts/Mass_marketing/twPztP5X">mass</a>-<a href="/facts/Pharmaceutical_marketing/6gbpBNx5">marketed</a> as treatment options for a large and diverse patient population with a variety of medical conditions, <a href="/facts/Genetic_predisposition/rQkzYCYv">genetic predispositions</a>, and treatment needs. A polypill is a <a href="/facts/Tablet_(pharmacy)/PcYmnjd0">tablet</a> or <a href="/facts/Capsule_(pharmacy)/cVSWhU1m">capsule</a> containing four or more active ingredients, frequently requiring custom preparation at a <a href="/facts/Compounding/U96yYcbG">compounding</a> pharmacy in order to meet the personalized specifications deemed necessary by a patient's <a href="/facts/Medical_prescription/4jt1T3mY">medical prescription</a>; such specificities may include uncommon, unconventional, or unavailable <a href="/facts/Dosage_(pharmacology)/lqVDnja5">dosage</a>, <a href="/facts/Dosage_form/ahtNIMrF">dosage form</a>, a <a href="/facts/Modified-release_dosage/YpWevExQ">modified release mechanism</a>, necessity for a particular <a href="/facts/Onset_of_action/BTIWvLSY">speed of onset</a> and/or <a href="/facts/Duration_of_action/zdvfFshl">duration of action</a>. Polypills can encompass four or more of any combination of <a href="/facts/Approved_drug/1AgqCVCh">approved</a> <a href="/facts/Prescription_drug/a2zNYPMq">prescription drugs</a>, <a href="/facts/Over_the_counter/QI3FcgRf">over the counter</a> drugs, and may also include <a href="/facts/Nutritional_supplements/SHXNNxaS">nutritional supplements</a>, <a href="/facts/Amino_acids/WDxYwBny">amino acids</a>, <a href="/facts/Enzymes/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a>, <a href="/facts/Hormone/WFnBnINJ">hormones</a>, <a href="/facts/Vitamin/SnW0LYBL">vitamins</a> and/or <a href="/facts/Essential_minerals/ACv8EG7f">essential minerals</a>. </p><p>Fixed-dose combination drugs were initially developed to target a single disease, as with <a href="/facts/Fixed-dose_combination_(antiretroviral)/JF4gTHIV">antiretroviral FDCs</a> <a href="/facts/Indication_(medicine)/DLdGwxDY">indicated</a> for treating <a href="/facts/AIDS/RqLIEMuJ">AIDS</a> and <a href="/facts/HIV/ulY2rgzu">HIV</a>. Combination drug treatment conceptually emphasizes simplified treatment plans, reduced <a href="/facts/Pill_burden/sE5ke3BV">pill burden</a> and increased <a href="/facts/Adherence_(medicine)/cC0Wfj3H">patient compliance</a> by offering accessible and <a href="/facts/Medication_costs/asuD2SAd">affordable</a> ingredients, generally <a href="/facts/Generic_drugs/IF6AXDVX">generic drugs</a> with established therapeutic efficacy and the ability to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions amongst a large patient population with varying treatment needs. </p>