How do tolerance, physical dependence and addiction differ?
It’s easy to confuse addiction with tolerance and physical dependence. But these are three distinct conditions. Tolerance. Sometimes your body adapts to the ongoing presence of a drug. The initial dosage of a medication becomes less effective over time. You may need higher doses of the medication to achieve the same level of pain relief. This is called tolerance. It’s normal — and not a sign of addiction. In some cases, tolerance can even be helpful. Side effects may disappear when your body becomes more used to the medication. Physical dependence. When your body has adapted to the presence of a drug, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop taking the drug. This is physical dependence. Many types of nonaddictive drugs — including corticosteroids and beta blockers — can cause physical dependence. If you gradually decrease the dosage under your doctor’s direction, you can stop taking these medications without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Addiction. Addiction is a
