Examples of Drug Cross-Tolerance

Tolerance occurs when prescribed or recreational drug intake affects receptors in the brain over time, leading to diminished results upon usage. To compensate, users take higher dosages in order to feel the effects they are used to, leading to chemical dependency. However, cross-tolerance can also develop in chemically dependent individuals, as tolerance to one drug creates an automatic tolerance to others.

Types of Drug Cross-Tolerance

Cross-tolerance can be either acute, rapid or chronic. Acute cross-tolerance generally occurs upon first exposure, causing a reduction in effects of the drug when the same amount is ingested. Rapid cross-tolerance generally occurs during repeated use, when a prior dose taken 8 to 24 hours earlier prevents the second dose from achieving the same effects. Chronic cross-tolerance can occur around smaller exposure that has built up resistance over time, leading chronic drug users to experience escalation in use after time has passed.

Examples of Drug Cross-Tolerance

Though cross-tolerance can occur with non-addictive drugs, it most frequently occurs around addictive drug use. Studies have shown that chronic meth users, for instance, show initial tolerance to other amphetamines, and vice versa, regardless of prior use. Studies have also shown that people who regularly consume pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) also experience diminished effects when taking amphetamines.

Hallucinogen dependent individuals also frequently experience cross-tolerance to tryptamines, leaving chronic mescaline or shroom users needing higher doses of LSD or DMT in order to achieve a high or trigger a psychedelic “trip.” Cigarette smokers have even exhibited cross-tolerance to caffeine, with lower sensitivity to caffeine’s stimulant effects than nonsmokers. Barbiturate users have exhibited cross-tolerance to benzodiazepines, as well as alcohol, requiring more intake of each to feel any effect.

Alcohol dependency can also create cross-tolerance. In fact, studies conducted in the early 1990s showed that alcohol dependent individuals experienced rapid cross-tolerance for barbiturates and benzodiazepines. In 1977, research showed that women who regularly consumed alcohol required higher doses of nitrous-oxide in order to feel its effects. There is also clinical evidence that those dependent on alcohol or barbiturates experience cross-tolerance when taking sedatives, hypnotics or even anesthetics.

Related posts:

1. Drug Overdose Risk and Tolerance
2. Drug Tolerance and Increased Side Effects
3. Classifications of Alcohol Tolerance
4. Pain Management and Prescription Drug Tolerance
5. Physical Symptoms of Cocaine Dependency
6. Psychological Effects of Methamphetamines
7. Permanent Neurological Damage From Crystal Meth
8. Behavioral Signs of Marijuana Use
9. Ethanols Addictive Properties
10. Effects of LSD on the Brain
11. Criminal Activity and Drug Addiction
12. What Makes Xanax So Addictive
13. Why Oxycontin Overdoses Occur
14. Psychological Effects of GHB
15. Signs of Amphetamine Withdrawal
16. Compulsive Behaviors and Meth Use
17. Heroins Strong Addictive Pull
18. Why Vicodin Addiction Is Common
19. Psychedelic Drugs and Impulse Control
20. Ecstasy Dependency and Depression