The inability of the body to eliminate medication can lead to?

• A. Allergic reaction
• B. Dependence
• C. Toxicity
• D. Tolerance

Answer: (C)

Elimination is how the body removes drugs through organs like the liver and kidneys. When elimination is impaired, a drug stays in the body longer and can accumulate with each dose. That buildup raises the circulating drug level, increasing the risk of toxic effects. The resulting toxicity depends on the medication and can affect various organs—nervous system, heart, liver, kidneys, and more—leading to serious or life-threatening problems if not addressed. Because of this, dose adjustments or longer intervals between doses are often needed for people with kidney or liver impairment, along with careful monitoring for signs of toxicity. Allergic reactions are immune responses, not a buildup issue; dependence and tolerance involve changes in the body's response to a drug rather than failure to eliminate it.