regimen

Regimen refers to a planned and regular course of actions designed to achieve a specific result. In medicine and health care, the term commonly describes a prescribed schedule of medications, dosages, and timing, often accompanied by dietary or activity constraints. A chemotherapy regimen, for example, outlines the drugs, doses, cycles, and pauses. In fitness and wellness contexts, a regimen denotes a structured routine of exercise, meals, or skincare designed to produce measurable outcomes. More generally, a regimen can mean any systematic plan of conduct or administration intended to regulate a process or behavior in an organization or individual.

The word derives from Latin regimen, meaning rule or guide, from regere "to rule." In English, regimen is sometimes used interchangeably with regime, but the latter more often denotes a political system or government administration, while regimen stresses the methodical, often health- or discipline-focused plan.

Implementation typically requires monitoring, adherence, and occasional adjustment by professionals. Strict regimens may be effective but can be burdensome or risky if not evidence-based or personalized, leading to noncompliance or adverse effects. Successful regimens are often iterative, with goals, milestones, and appropriate safeguards for safety and tolerability.

See also: treatment plan, protocol, schedule, adherence