Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What is the term used to describe the loss of effect of a drug over time?

1. Tolerance

2. Treatment refractoriness

3. Resistance

4. Dependency

The correct answer is: Treatment refractoriness

The correct term that describes the loss of effect of a drug over time is commonly referred to as tolerance. Tolerance occurs when a person needs to take higher doses of a medication to achieve the same effect that they initially experienced with a lower dose. This happens because the body becomes accustomed to the drug, leading to diminished responsiveness. It is a well-documented phenomenon in various medication classes, particularly with opioids and sedatives. Other terms like treatment refractoriness, resistance, and dependency relate to different concepts. Treatment refractoriness typically refers to a patient's lack of response to treatment, even when appropriate therapies are used, and is often discussed in the context of chronic conditions or certain medications where previous treatments fail to work over time. Resistance, particularly in infectious diseases, entails the failure of a drug to effectively exert its action against pathogens, often due to genetic changes in bacteria or viruses. Dependency implies a physical or psychological reliance on a substance, leading to withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not available. Each of these terms captures a distinct aspect of medical treatment and drug interaction, differentiating them from the concept of tolerance.