Pharmacology & biology
Mechanism of action
Also known as: moa · mechanism
The specific biochemical route by which a drug produces its effect — which receptor, which pathway, which tissue.
In plain terms
Mechanism is the most useful thing to know when combining compounds. Two products with different names and the same mechanism do not stack; they add up, along with their side effects.
It is also the honest limit on extrapolation. A plausible mechanism is a reason to run a trial, not a substitute for having run one.
Educational reference only. Pepperz does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing guidance, or dosing recommendations.