A client has been taking antidepressants for 2 years. He tells the nurse that his medication no longer seems to be working despite the fact that he ensures that he never misses a dose. What phenomenon could account this client's claim?

A) Refractoriness
B) Efficacy
C) Affinity
D) Noncompliance


Ans: A
Feedback:
Refractoriness means the desensitization of cells to a drug over time. Also called downregulation, refractoriness generally occurs when agonists continually stimulate cells. The resultant repeated exposure of cells to the same concentration of the drug causes the drug to have diminished effectiveness.

Nursing

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