Drug Toxicity

DRUG
Agent or substance that
is used to:
-Diagnose

-Treat

Prevent disease

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 Introduction
Toxicity is the degree of danger posed by a substance
to living organisms, including man

It is also the extent to which a substance is toxic

Drug toxicology focuses on the harmful effects of

drugs in the animal and human body.

Some possible outcomes of toxicity include cancer,

skin/eye irritation, fertility problems and death

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

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 Introduction contd…
These same drugs can be toxic to certain
individuals due to:

-Genetic pre-disposition (genetic factors can

alter how a patient metabolizes a drug)

-Age (newborn and elderly: liver is either

underdeveloped or functioning at a decreased
capacity)

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-Environmental factors e.g tobacco smoke,
pesticides, waste facilities, heavy metals like lead
and mercury; fumes from factories and cars

-Drug-drug interactions e.g. Aspirin+

methotrexate: decreases removal of methotrexate
accumulation and toxicity

-Dose

-Underlying pathology (renal, hepatic and cardiac

diseases)

-Inappropriate use or administration of the

drug
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 Introduction contd…
Over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen can
be lethal (in this case, by causing fulminant hepatitis)
if taken in supra (high) therapeutic doses

All drugs have both primary intended effects and

secondary unintended effects, the latter known as
side effects or adverse effects.