What is Drug Tolerance?

What is Drug Tolerance?

• A. Increased sensitivity after exposure
• B. Decreased sensitivity to a drug as a consequence of exposure to it, more drug is required for the same effect
• C. A drug used to treat substance dependence
• D. Rapid elimination of a drug from the body

Answer: (B)

Tolerance is when repeated drug use leads to a diminished effect, so you need more of the drug to achieve the same response. This happens because the body adapts, either through pharmacodynamic changes like receptors becoming less responsive or fewer receptors being available, or through pharmacokinetic changes such as the body increasing the rate at which the drug is metabolized. An example is opioid or alcohol tolerance with ongoing use. This is not about becoming more sensitive (that would be sensitization), not about a drug used to treat dependence, and not simply about the drug being cleared faster, although faster metabolism can contribute to tolerance.

Tolerance is when repeated drug use leads to a diminished effect, so you need more of the drug to achieve the same response. This happens because the body adapts, either through pharmacodynamic changes like receptors becoming less responsive or fewer receptors being available, or through pharmacokinetic changes such as the body increasing the rate at which the drug is metabolized. An example is opioid or alcohol tolerance with ongoing use. This is not about becoming more sensitive (that would be sensitization), not about a drug used to treat dependence, and not simply about the drug being cleared faster, although faster metabolism can contribute to tolerance.