Editorial: Fixed-Dose Combinations

Abstract

The phrase "multidrug therapy" (MDT) refers to concurrent use of two or more drugs to treat a single disease. This approach is commonly used in the treatment of hypertension, tuberculosis and diabetes, among other several diseases. There are different variations of MDT. In one variation, drugs are administered singly in different dosage forms either at the same time or at different intervals. In another variation, two or more drugs are co-packaged and taken at the same time interval (od, bd, tds, etc). In yet another variation, two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are co-formulated as a single dosage form commonly referred to as fixed dose combinations (FDCs) and administered at appropriate intervals. This editorial will focus on the merits and demerits of FDCs.