Decrease in response with a particular amount of drug is called?

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Explanation

Tolerance is the correct term describing the phenomenon where repeated administration of a given dose of a drug has progressively less effect.
This state requires the dose to be increased to obtain the same magnitude of effect that was produced by the original, lower dose.
It is an adaptive process where the body becomes less responsive to the drug's presence over time.
A classic example is seen with opioid analgesics, where patients may require escalating doses to manage chronic pain.

Option A: Resistance refers to the tolerance of microorganisms (like bacteria, viruses) or cancer cells to the inhibitory action of a drug, not the overall response of a person's body.
Option B: Addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use, despite negative consequences. It is not simply a decreased physiological response.
Option D: Dependence is a physiological state where the body has adapted to the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if the drug is stopped. While often co-occurring with tolerance, it is defined by the withdrawal syndrome, not the decreased response.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Prioritize focused assessment, early escalation, and real-time monitoring when managing Pharmacological Concepts: Tolerance, Resistance, Addiction, and Dependence in acute care settings.
Nurses must monitor patients on long-term medications (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines, nitrates) for signs of tolerance, such as a patient reporting that their pain is no longer controlled by the current dose.
Recognizing tolerance is crucial for patient safety and effective therapy. It may necessitate a discussion with the prescriber about adjusting the dose, changing the medication, or implementing drug holidays (e.g., a nitrate-free period for nitroglycerin patches to prevent tachyphylaxis).
What if the question described a patient experiencing nausea and tremors after missing a dose of their medication? In that case, the correct answer would be 'Dependence,' as the key feature is the emergence of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question stem: 'decrease in response' to a drug.
This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of pharmacological definitions.
Mentally define each of the four options provided.
Compare your definitions to the scenario in the question. 'Tolerance' is the only term that specifically means a reduced effect from the same dose of a drug.
Differentiate it from 'resistance' (microbes/cells), 'addiction' (behavior), and 'dependence' (withdrawal symptoms).
Select the option that is a direct match for the definition provided in the stem.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacological Concepts: Tolerance, Resistance, Addiction, and Dependence
Stem keywords: decrease in response, drug
Lead-in keywords: is called
Negative lead-in flag: false

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