Idiosyncrasy
Idiosyncrasy
Idiosyncrasy (pronounced: /ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkrəsi/) is a term used in medicine to describe a characteristic, habit, or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual. The term is derived from the Greek words 'idios' meaning 'own' and 'synkrasis' meaning 'mixture'.
Etymology
The term 'idiosyncrasy' is derived from the Greek words 'idios' meaning 'own' and 'synkrasis' meaning 'mixture'. It was first used in English in the 17th century to describe a peculiarity that distinguishes an individual from others.
Medical Usage
In medicine, an idiosyncrasy refers to an unusual reaction to a drug that is specific to the individual. This is not due to the individual's allergic reaction or the drug's pharmacological effect, but rather to the individual's unique response. This can be due to genetic factors, underlying health conditions, or unknown causes.
Related Terms
- Pharmacogenomics: The study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs. This relatively new field combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions) to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person's genetic makeup.
- Adverse drug reaction: A harmful or unpleasant reaction, resulting from an intervention related to the use of a medicinal product, which predicts hazard from future administration and warrants prevention or specific treatment, or alteration of the dosage regimen, or withdrawal of the product.
- Drug metabolism: The process by which the body breaks down and converts medication into active chemical substances. It is also the process of chemical transformation of drugs into compounds that are easier to eliminate from the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Idiosyncrasy
- Wikipedia's article - Idiosyncrasy
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