A client who has been prescribed a narcotic for chronic back pain is demonstrating signs of withdrawal. The nurse identifies these symptoms as being:

Question

1. Physical dependence.
2. Psychological dependence.
3. Plateau.
4. Drug allergy.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Physiological dependence is due to biochemical changes in body tissues, especially the nervous system. These tissues come to require the substance for normal functioning. A dependent person who stops using the drug experiences withdrawal symptoms.
Rationale 2: Psychological dependence is emotional reliance on a drug to maintain a sense of well-being, accompanied by feelings of need or cravings for that drug. There are varying degrees of psychological dependence, ranging from mild desire to craving and compulsive use of the drug.
Rationale 3: Plateau is a maintained concentration of a drug in the plasma during a series of scheduled doses.
Rationale 4: A drug allergy is an immunologic reaction to a drug. When a client is first exposed to a foreign substance, the body might react by producing antibodies. A client can react to a drug in the same manner as an antigen and thus develop symptoms of an allergic reaction.