When two analgesics are administered together, what is that action referred to?

When two analgesics are administered together, the action is referred to as combination therapy. This term specifically describes the practice of using more than one medication simultaneously to enhance analgesic effects or to provide pain relief through different mechanisms of action. By combining two analgesics, healthcare providers may achieve improved efficacy, reduce doses of each medication, minimize the risk of side effects, or target different pain pathways, ultimately leading to better pain management for the patient.

Other terms, while related to medication use, do not precisely define the act of using two analgesics together. Adjunct therapy typically refers to additional treatments that are not primary for the condition but support the main therapy, such as using an anticonvulsant as an adjunct to treat certain types of pain. Polypharmacy generally describes the simultaneous use of multiple medications by a patient, often focusing on the potential risks and complications that arise from it, rather than the therapeutic intention. Complementary therapy involves alternative treatments that may coincide with standard medical care but is not specific to the simultaneous use of analgesics.