In
pharmacology
Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur betwee ...
, an adjuvant is a drug or other substance, or a combination of substances, that is used to increase the
efficacy
Efficacy is the ability to perform a task to a satisfactory or expected degree. The word comes from the same roots as '' effectiveness'', and it has often been used synonymously, although in pharmacology a distinction is now often made betwee ...
or
potency of certain drugs. Specifically, the term can refer to:
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Adjuvant therapy in cancer management
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Analgesic adjuvant in pain management
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Immunologic adjuvant
In immunology, an adjuvant is a substance that increases or modulates the immune response to a vaccine. The word "adjuvant" comes from the Latin word , meaning to help or aid. "An immunologic adjuvant is defined as any substance that acts to acce ...
in vaccines
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Adjuvants