Tolerance vs acquired resistance

Tolerance vs acquired resistance

• A. Tolerance is diminished response to same dosage; acquired resistance is diminished sensitivity of cells to a drug; could have total resistance
• B. Acquired resistance is immediate, while tolerance develops slowly
• C. Tolerance only occurs with antibiotics
• D. Tolerance and acquired resistance are the same

Answer: (A)

Distinguish how the body or organism responds to a drug versus how its cells become less affected by it. Tolerance means you get a diminished response to the same dose of the drug, a reversible change that often requires a higher dose or longer exposure to achieve the same effect. Acquired resistance means the cells or organisms actually become less sensitive to the drug due to genetic changes or transfer of resistance traits, and this can lead to little or no drug effect, sometimes even complete resistance. This difference is crucial: tolerance is a change in responsiveness that can be overcome by dosing strategies, while acquired resistance reflects a true loss of susceptibility at the cellular level. The statement matches this distinction: tolerance is a diminished response to the same dosage, and acquired resistance is diminished sensitivity of cells to a drug, with the possibility of total resistance. The other options misstate the timing, the scope (tolerance isn’t limited to antibiotics), or the relationship between the two.

Distinguish how the body or organism responds to a drug versus how its cells become less affected by it. Tolerance means you get a diminished response to the same dose of the drug, a reversible change that often requires a higher dose or longer exposure to achieve the same effect. Acquired resistance means the cells or organisms actually become less sensitive to the drug due to genetic changes or transfer of resistance traits, and this can lead to little or no drug effect, sometimes even complete resistance. This difference is crucial: tolerance is a change in responsiveness that can be overcome by dosing strategies, while acquired resistance reflects a true loss of susceptibility at the cellular level.

The statement matches this distinction: tolerance is a diminished response to the same dosage, and acquired resistance is diminished sensitivity of cells to a drug, with the possibility of total resistance. The other options misstate the timing, the scope (tolerance isn’t limited to antibiotics), or the relationship between the two.