Medication Safety and Management of Side Effects Unwanted or unexpected reactions to a medication or treatment.

Medication tolerance

When taking medications frequently or over an extended period, there is a possibility of the body adapting and getting used to the continued presence of the medication. This can lead to medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. .

What is medication tolerance?

  • Medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. refers to what happens when a person’s body gets used to a medication that is used repeatedly and as such the medication no longer works as well as it used to.  
  • Medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. may occur over time as a medication is used repeatedly. Developing medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. often requires an individual to continually increase the dose of the medication to achieve the same effect.
Symbol of paper with a pin in it, drawing attention to the note on the right.

Note: Patients are often evaluated by a clinician to determine whether they need more of a medication because of tolerance or because they are not responding to the treatment.

When does it happen and what causes it?

  • Medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. can be experienced across many medication classes (e.g. medications that work in a similar way or have similar chemical structures).
  • It usually occurs because the body metabolizes the medication more quickly or the receptors in your body stop responding in the same way.
  • Medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. can occur at different rates in different people. It may occur quickly (over several days) or over a long period of time (several years). It can occur depending on the type of medication, the dose of the medication, and the frequency in which it is taken.

What should I do if I think I am experiencing medication tolerance?

  • Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you are experiencing medication tolerance A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect. .
    • It is important not to stop the medication, increase the dose, or supplement with additional medications without first speaking to your healthcare provider.

References

Laxative use: What to know. Cornell University. (2019, October). https://health.cornell.edu/sites/health/files/pdf-library/LaxativeUse.pdf

Lynch, S. S. (2022, October 18). Tolerance and resistance to drugs. Merck Manuals Consumer Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/drugs/factors-affecting-response-to-drugs/tolerance-and-resistance-to-drugs

Mayo Clinic. (2024, January 26). Nonprescription laxatives A class of medications taken to loosen stool to produce a bowel movement and relieve constipation. for constipation: Use with caution. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/in-depth/laxatives/art-20045906

Wharton, D. A. (2011). Cold tolerance. Molecular and Physiological Basis of Nematode Survival, 182–204. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936877.0182