active placebo

/ˌæktɪv pləˌsiboʊ/
IPA guide

Definitions of active placebo
  1. noun
    a placebo used in experimental tests of a drug that has noticeable side effects
    “an active placebo mimics the side effects of the experimental drug”
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    type of:
    placebo
    an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug
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