Combination therapy: past, present, and future

Abstract Combination therapy is defined as an amalgamation of two or more therapeutic agents, both synthetic and herbal, that can be used synergistically to combat the disorders. Combination therapy was first conceptualized in 1950 but has gained recognition in the past few decades when scientists have established remarkable results in the treatment of cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic disorders, asthma, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, etc. This chapter will provide information on the concept of combination drugs, i.e., the origin of this concept, rationale, general principles, limitations, and classification of combination drugs. Detailed information about the mechanism of some of the combinations, which have been approved, and some, which have been investigated by various research groups, has also been discussed in this chapter.