Phenomena and Processes

Drug Tolerance

Progressive diminution of the susceptibility of a human or animal to the effects of a drug, resulting from its continued administration. It should be differentiated from DRUG RESISTANCE wherein an organism, disease, or tissue fails to respond to the intended effectiveness of a chemical or drug. It should also be differentiated from MAXIMUM TOLERATED DOSE and NO-OBSERVED-ADVERSE-EFFECT LEVEL.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Progressive diminution of the susceptibility of a human or animal to the effects of a drug, resulting from its continued administration. It should be differentiated from DRUG RESISTANCE wherein an organism, disease, or tissue fails to respond to the intended effectiveness of a chemical or drug. It should also be differentiated from MAXIMUM TOLERATED DOSE and NO-OBSERVED-ADVERSE-EFFECT LEVEL.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Drug Tolerances
  • Tolerance, Drug
  • Tolerances, Drug

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings ethnology, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

differentiate from DRUG RESISTANCE; not for tolerability ( = drug /adv eff): Manual 28.19

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. G07.690.773.992w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 37

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Drug Tolerance. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004361. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004361
  2. Drug Tolerance. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_tolerance
  3. Drug Tolerance. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1425425