-ergic

-ergic

suff. Activated or produced by: cholinergic.
[Greek ergon, work; see werg- in Indo-European roots + -ic.]

-ergic

a combining form with the meanings “activated by,” “sensitive to,” “releasing,” “resembling the effect produced by” the substance or phenomenon specified by the initial element: dopaminergic. [appar. orig. in adrenergic and cholinergic, probably on the model of allergic]