Question

Which of the following patients is exhibiting drug tolerance?

A. a patient continues to take a mediation despite harmful effects
B. a patient requires an increased dose of a mediation to achieve continued therapeutic benefit
C. a patient exhibits signs of withdrawal when a medication is discontinued
D. a patient develops an intense craving for a drug.

Answer 1

The patient exhibiting drug tolerance is the one who requires an increased dose of medication to achieve the same therapeutic benefit. Tolerance is a physiological adaptation whereby more of the drug is needed to produce the same effect that was once achieved at lower doses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient who is exhibiting drug tolerance is the one who requires an increased dose of a medication to achieve continued therapeutic benefit. Tolerance occurs when a drug user requires more and more of a given drug in order to experience the same effects of the drug. Over time, the user's body becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug, and therefore, the user needs to increase the dosage to attain the desired effect. This is in contrast to physical dependence, where the user experiences withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of drug use, and psychological dependence, where there is an emotional need for the drug often manifested by an intense craving.

Regarding the options provided:

1. Withdrawal is the negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued.
2. Psychological dependence refers to the drug craving and emotional need for the drug.
3. Tolerance is when increased doses of the drug are needed for the same effect.
4. Reuptake is a process not directly related to tolerance but involves the neurotransmitter activity in the brain.