drug tolerance; drug habituation

Etiology: - common physiologic result of chronic opioid use Clinical manifestations: - a larger dose of opioid is required to maintain the same level of analgesia - generally accompanied by drug-dependence, such that drug-withdrawal may occur if the drug is stopped abruptly or when opioid antagonists are administered Note: - drug tolerance & drug dependence differ from drug addiction (which includes a component of opiate use for effects other than relief of pain)

Related

addiction (psychological dependence) drug dependence

References

- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 14, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2006