Drug tolerance - this exists when an individual requires increasingly larger dose of a particular drug to cause a definite curative effect. i.e. when normal doses become inadequate for a given anticipated response. This phenomenon occurs commonly with barbiturates e.g. Valium, alcohol (particularly ethanol), and tobacco.
Cumulative effect - this is the increasing response of repeated doses of a drug that occurs when the dose exceeds the rate of its excretion from the body. As a result, the amount of the drug builds up in the body unless the dosage is adjusted.
Toxic symptoms - this is an unexpected effect of a drug. It 'is essentially individual. Under-response or over response to a drug may be idiosyncratic (i.e. peculiar to individual). Also, the drug may have a completely different effect from the normal one or cause unpredictable and inexplicable symptoms in a particular client.
Drug interaction - this occurs when administration of one drug before, at the same time as, or after another drug alters the effect of one or both drugs. The effect of one or both drugs may be either increased (potentiating effect) or decreased (inhibiting effect). Drug interaction may be beneficial or harmful.
Introgenic disease - (disease caused unintentionally by medical therapy) can be due to drug therapy. There could be serious and irreversible damage to organs of the body as a result of taking some drugs. Organs most susceptible are the liver and kidneys. Malformation or even death of the fetus can occur as a result of drugs taken during pregnancy. The Rasul (PBUH) used to pray:
"0 Allah, the lord of the people! Remove the trouble and heal the patient, for You are the Healer. No healing is of any avail but Yours; healing that will leave behind no ailment. " (Bukhari).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited