Less is known about differences of effects for women for many medications, since most testing is done with men rather than risk the possibility of causing damage to a fetus. Succinylcholine, a medication commonly used for relaxing throat muscles to insert an endotracheal tube, can kill some people who have a genetic inability to deal with that medication. There are not many documented genetic medication problems, but it is wise to pay attention when clients tell you that several people in their family have problems with a certain medication. I suspect that many of the idiosyncratic reactions that we see with individuals may actually result from their genetic heritage. BACK Psychological Factors Psychological factors may help or interfere with medication effects.
Placebo effects are positive effects due merely to a belief in the effectiveness of the medication.
Some people seem certain that a medication will not work for them and strangely enough it fails. There are many things we do not understand about the psyche and about the body's ability to adjust levels of various substances including neurotransmitters in response to psychological factors. It is wise for the nurse to help the client's psychological condition by explaining with a positive attitude how the medication is supposed to work. BACK Tolerance Tolerance may affect how a drug works for an individual client. Tolerance means that the body adjusts to multiple doses of a medication in a way which requires higher doses in order to get an effect.