Drug resistance is the reduction in effectiveness of a medication such as an antimicrobial or an antineoplastic in treating a disease or condition.[1] The term is used in the context of resistance that pathogens or cancers have “acquired”, that is, resistance has evolved. Antimicrobial resistance and antineoplastic resistance challenge clinical care and drive research. When an organism is resistant to more than one drug, it is said to be multidrug-resistant. {Source: Wikipedia}
According to Health Line:
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT TOLERANCE
- ToleranceTrusted Source is still not well understood. Researchers are still looking at why, when, and how it develops in some people and not others.
- It can happen with any drug, including prescription and unregulated drugs, like cocaine.
- Your condition might worsen because the medication isn’t working as well.
- Cross-tolerance could occur. This is tolerance to other drugs in the same class.
- With certain classes of drugs, like opioids, tolerance can increase the risk of dependence, addiction, and overdose.
- When your body develops tolerance, using higher doses increases the risk of overdose.
- A benefit of tolerance might be fewer side effects as your body gets used to the medication.
I learned about drug resistance with my severe back pain. Over time I was given Oxycodone, when that stopped working, Fentanyl. I had to change doctors because my doctor was retiring. My new physician told me that pain killers after a length of time will start causing pain the opposite of why they are given.
I think I need to go back in time here. I was experiencing greater pain and without realizing the problem when I had control of my Oxycodone I started double dosing, innocently and not on purpose.
A Horse of Another Color
“Antibiotic resistance happens when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow.
Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant germs are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat. In most cases, antibiotic-resistant infections require extended hospital stays, additional follow-up doctor visits, and costly and toxic alternatives.
Antibiotic resistance does not mean the body is becoming resistant to antibiotics; it is that bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics designed to kill them.” {Source: CDC}
I learned about this when hospitalized in July. They now test for a Superbug:
Superbug: : An informal term for a bacterium that has become resistant to antibiotics that usually are used to treat it, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or any multidrug-resistant bacterium.
Part of this test looks like the same thing as the Covid-19 test. The long swab for the nasal cavity, the other part of the test involves swabs of the groin and the anus. It sounds horrible, but, there is no pain, maybe some embarrassment.
So dear reader if you are experiencing issues with medications that seem to have lost their zip always speak to a Physician. They will develop a plan for you to help you reach an intended goal.
RTS -Mental health 
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