A nurse is working with a patient who has been taking medication for anxiety for several weeks and now reports that the medication doesn't seem to work anymore. The patient has stopped taking the medication, as it doesn't work. Which finding should the nurse suspect?

A. The patient is experiencing withdrawal symptoms: Withdrawal symptoms occur when a patient stops taking a medication suddenly after long-term use. However, the scenario does not describe withdrawal symptoms, but rather a loss of effectiveness of the medication. B. The patient is habituated to the medication: Habituation refers to psychological dependence on a medication, which does not directly explain why the medication is no longer effective. C. The patient is addicted to the medication: Addiction involves compulsive use of a drug despite harmful consequences and does not explain the loss of effectiveness described. D. The patient is experiencing tolerance: Tolerance occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a drug, and higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect. The scenario describes tolerance, where the patient feels the medication no longer works.