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

Notes

• drug tolerance & drug dependence differ from drug addiction (which includes a component of opiate use for effects other than relief of pain)

More general terms

• tolerance

Additional terms

• addiction (psychological dependence)
• drug dependence