What is the term for the buildup of a drug in the body?

The buildup of a drug in the body is referred to as the cumulative effect. This occurs when a drug is administered repeatedly over time, leading to an accumulation of its active substance in the body. This can be particularly important in the context of medications that have a long half-life, where the effects can be prolonged and possibly lead to toxicity if not monitored properly.

Cumulative effects can lead to an enhanced response to the medication or, conversely, adverse effects if the drug reaches levels higher than therapeutically intended. This concept is crucial for medication aides to understand, as they must closely monitor patients for signs of overmedication or necessitate adjustments in dosing to prevent complications.

The other terms listed have different meanings. Tolerance refers to a condition where a patient requires increasingly larger doses of a drug to achieve the same effect due to repeated exposure. Dependence is a state resulting from chronic use of a drug, where the body adapts to its presence, and withdrawal signifies the symptoms that occur when a dependent substance is abruptly reduced or eliminated. These concepts are related to drug use but do not specifically describe the accumulation itself.