NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment

Ace your North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) with our comprehensive practice test. Features include interactive flashcards, multiple-choice questions, with detailed hints and explanations. Fast-track your pharmacy career today!

Practice this question and more.

What indicates tolerance to opioids?

No longer liking the drug
Needing a higher dose for the same level of analgesia
Decreased side effects
Ability to skip doses without withdrawal symptoms

The correct answer is: Needing a higher dose for the same level of analgesia

Tolerance to opioids is characterized by needing a higher dose to achieve the same level of analgesia. This means that over time, a patient may require an increased amount of the opioid medication to experience the same pain-relieving effects as when they first started taking it. This phenomenon is a common concern in chronic pain management and requires close monitoring by healthcare providers to ensure safe and effective pain control. The other options are not indicative of tolerance to opioids: - A. No longer liking the drug: This statement does not specifically relate to tolerance and can be influenced by various factors such as adverse effects or personal preferences. - C. Decreased side effects: Tolerance to opioids is not associated with a decrease in side effects; in fact, tolerance can develop to both the desired effects (analgesia) and the adverse effects of opioids. - D. Ability to skip doses without withdrawal symptoms: This describes physical dependence on opioids but does not necessarily indicate the development of tolerance. Tolerance is more related to the decreasing effectiveness of a specific dose over time.