Synergy
Synergy
Synergy (/sɪˈnɜːrdʒi/; from the Greek word συνεργία meaning "working together") is a concept in medicine that refers to the interaction or cooperation of two or more substances, or other agents, to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Etymology
The term "synergy" comes from the Greek word "synergos" which means "working together". It was first used in the English language in the mid 19th century.
In Medicine
In the field of medicine, synergy often refers to the effect that the combination of two or more drugs can have. This can be either positive, where the drugs enhance each other's effectiveness, or negative, where the drugs interfere with each other's effectiveness.
For example, the antibiotics penicillin and streptomycin are known to have a synergistic effect when used together, as they each enhance the other's ability to kill bacteria. On the other hand, the antidepressant Prozac and the sedative Xanax can have a negative synergistic effect, as they can increase each other's side effects.
Related Terms
- Additive effect: This is when the combined effect of two substances is equal to the sum of the effects of the individual substances.
- Antagonistic effect: This is when two substances interfere with each other's actions, reducing their overall effect.
- Potentiation: This is when one substance enhances the effect of another substance.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Synergy
- Wikipedia's article - Synergy
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