A response to a drug that is opposite to what is expected, such as increased anxiety from a sedative, is called what?

• A. Paradoxical drug effect
• B. Physical dependence
• C. Potency
• D. Outpatient treatment

Answer: (A)

A paradoxical drug effect is when a drug produces the opposite of the intended or expected response. Here, a sedative is supposed to dampen anxiety, calmness, or sedation, but in some people it instead increases anxiety or agitation. This counterintuitive reaction is documented in pharmacology and can occur due to individual differences in brain chemistry and neural disinhibition.

The other terms describe different ideas: physical dependence refers to the body's adaptation to a drug with potential withdrawal if it’s stopped; potency is about how strong a drug is and how much is needed to reach a certain effect; outpatient treatment is simply a setting for receiving care, not a drug’s reaction.