When a patient requires increasingly higher doses of a medication to achieve the same therapeutic effect, what is this condition known as?

The condition where a patient requires increasingly higher doses of a medication to achieve the same therapeutic effect is known as tolerance. Tolerance develops as the body becomes accustomed to the presence of the medication, resulting in diminished effects over time at the original dose. This process often occurs with certain medications, particularly those that act on the central nervous system, such as opioids or benzodiazepines.

In cases of tolerance, adjustments to dosage may be necessary to maintain the desired effect, which underscores the importance of monitoring patients regularly to ensure effective pain management or other therapeutic goals while minimizing the risk of side effects associated with higher doses.

While dependence refers to a state where a person's body becomes reliant on a drug to function normally, and a cumulative effect describes an increased response due to multiple doses taken, these terms do not specifically address the need for higher doses to achieve the same therapeutic outcome. Drug interactions involve the modifications of effects caused by the co-administration of different medications, which is distinct from tolerance.