A patient with terminal cancer requires increasing doses of an opioid pain medication to obtain relief from pain.This patient is exhibiting signs of drug:

A) Abuse
B) Misuse
C) Tolerance
D) Dependence

Question

A patient with terminal cancer requires increasing doses of an opioid pain medication to obtain relief from pain.This patient is exhibiting signs of drug:A)  AbuseB)  MisuseC)  ToleranceD)  Dependence

Aisha Fekih · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  Tolerance refers to the body's natural adaptation to a drug, which leads to the need for higher doses to achieve the same effect. In this case, the patient's increasing need for higher doses of the pain medication indicates tolerance. Drug abuse refers to the use of a substance for non-medical purposes or in excessive amounts, while drug misuse refers to using a medication in a way that is different from its prescribed instructions. Dependence refers to the body's reliance on a drug, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms if the drug is suddenly stopped. While it is possible that the patient is also exhibiting signs of drug misuse or dependence, the most appropriate answer to this question is C) tolerance.

A patient with terminal cancer requires increasing doses of an opioid pain medication to obtain relief from pain.This patient is exhibiting signs of drug:

A) Abuse
B) Misuse
C) Tolerance
D) Dependence

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Learning Objectives

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