Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Pharmacodynamics describes changes in biological receptor responsiveness following chronic or repeated xenobiotic administration.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Drug tolerance is the gradual reduction in pharmacological responsiveness following repeated or prolonged administration of a drug, requiring increasing doses to produce the original magnitude of effect.
Tachyphylaxis is rapid, acute desensitization occurring after only a few doses.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, a gradual decrease in drug response is called tolerance.