Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Concepts in Pharmacology

B3 · Variability of Drug Response

B3.iv · Tachyphylaxis, Tolerance & Dependence

Official V5 objective
Define tachyphylaxis, tolerance, addiction, dependence and idiosyncrasy.
1 SAQ topic 1 SAQ appearance 0 VIVA stations

Written examination

SAQ history

1 appearance
Tolerance & Tachyphylaxis
1 exam appearance
Define the terms tolerance and tachyphylaxis. (20% of marks) Describe the different mechanisms by which tolerance can develop, and give examples for each. (80% of marks)
15%

Oral examination

VIVA history

0 stations

No mapped VIVA history for this objective.

Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.