The Tox Lab

The Tox Lab

The Tox Lab is a podcast dedicated to exploring the science of toxicology and its real-world implications. Each week we aim to break down complex research, investigate real-life cases, and discuss emerging trends in toxicology. Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

  1. HACE 3 DÍAS

    Episode 72: GHB – Forensic Toxicology, Detection and Interpretation (Part 2)

    This week on The Tox Lab, we continue our discussion on GHB, focusing on its role in forensic toxicology. We begin by examining a study investigating GHB in drug‑facilitated crime in Paris, highlighting patterns of reported incidents and toxicological findings. We then turn to post‑mortem toxicology, discussing the challenges of interpreting GHB concentrations after death and exploring research aimed at distinguishing post‑mortem formation from exogenous intake. Join us as we explore the forensic applications, interpretive challenges, and analytical considerations associated with GHB, and consider how these factors impact casework. This is part two of a two‑part series on GHB. In last week’s episode, we explored patterns of use, harms, and user perspectives. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0379073825003780?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X24000925?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073825001306?via%3Dihub Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    24 min

  2. 30 MAR

    Episode 71: GHB – Patterns of Use, Harms and User Experience (Part 1)

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re examining GHB, its use, and the harms associated with it. We begin by exploring what GHB is and how it works, before turning to a study from Australia examining trends in use over a 10-year period and the associated increase in harms. We then discuss a qualitative study focusing on GHB use among individuals identifying as heterosexual, exploring patterns of use, motivations, and the ways in which users perceive and navigate risk, harm, and stigma. Join us as we examine the pharmacology, patterns of use, and lived experiences associated with GHB, and consider what these findings may mean for understanding its risks. This is part one of a two-part series. In next week’s episode, we will turn to the forensic aspects of GHB. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.70308 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-026-01405-1 Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    22 min

  3. 23 MAR

    Episode 70: Poison Centre Data – Insights into Drug Trends and Toxicology Surveillance

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at poison centre data and how it can be used to identify drug trends and support toxicovigilance efforts. We begin by discussing a study analysing data from six European poison centres in the Netherlands, Freiburg, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The paper examines reports involving the eleven most commonly encountered recreational drugs and highlights how patterns of drug use differ both over time and between countries. We then turn to a study focusing on reports of novel psychoactive substances submitted to several European poison centres in 2021, exploring how these data can contribute to monitoring emerging substances and strengthening drug early warning systems. Join us as we explore how poison centre data can provide valuable insights into drug use trends and play an important role in toxicology surveillance and public health. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2026.2628073 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2024.2430311 Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    26 min

  4. 16 MAR

    Episode 69: Alcohol – Fatal Complications of Chronic Misuse

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at one of the world’s oldest drugs, alcohol, and some of the fatal complications associated with chronic misuse. We discuss several cases that highlight the complex and sometimes unexpected consequences of long-term alcohol use, including hypokalaemic rhabdomyolysis, sudden unexpected death in individuals with alcohol misuse, and a fatal case of delirium tremens. Using these cases, we explore the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to these outcomes and how chronic alcohol use can predispose individuals to severe and potentially fatal complications. Join us as we examine the clinical features, mechanisms, and toxicological considerations surrounding the fatal consequences of chronic alcohol misuse. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1344622326000556?casa_token=b4hFH3pyA7oAAAAA:f55en_CZh6ea1Wf-hG98mab7NfYlMWcqEy_c7SEyio08hDyy5eTwqwFwcMS029YHfZABlCOiMhQ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12665443/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00258172261419305 Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    20 min

  5. 9 MAR

    Episode 68: Dopamine Agonists – Impulse Control Disorders and Gambling in Parkinson’s Therapy

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring dopamine agonists and their role in the development of impulse-related conditions such as gambling disorder, hypersexuality, and hobbyism. We cover a couple of case studies where dopamine agonists have led to these behavioural changes before discussing a review paper that examines the role of these medications in the development of addiction and gambling disorder. Finally, we turn to the potential legal implications and discuss a High Court judgement examining a breach of duty following the development of impulse control disorder and psychosis during dopamine agonist therapy, and the importance of counselling patients about these risks. Join us as we explore how dopaminergic therapies can influence behaviour, and the clinical and legal considerations that arise when pharmacology intersects with addiction and impulse control. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2021/02120/pathological_gambling_in_a_patient_on_piribedil__a.46.aspx https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40290-022-00453-9 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2880944/ https://vlex.co.uk/vid/hazel-kennedy-v-dr-841086105 Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    23 min

  6. 2 MAR

    Episode 67: Tetrodotoxin Toxicity – From Pufferfish to Forensic Casework

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing tetrodotoxin, the potent neurotoxin most commonly associated with pufferfish. We cover a clinical case of tetrodotoxin poisoning following ingestion of pufferfish stew, which initially followed the expected progression of symptoms before the emergence of unusual neurological features. We then turn to alternative sources of tetrodotoxin, including its presence in trumpet shells off the coast of Portugal, and explore how tetrodotoxin and its analogues may appear in unexpected places. Finally, we put our forensic hats on and examine a case in which tetrodotoxin was used in a homicide. Join us as we explore how a well-known marine toxin can present in unexpected ways across clinical and forensic toxicology. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://www.signavitae.com/articles/10.22514/sv.2026.015 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713525002221?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1752928X21000378?via%3Dihub Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    21 min

  7. 23 FEB

    Episode 66: CBD and Sleep – Clinical Evidence and Emerging Mechanisms

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at CBD and its effects on sleep. CBD is widely marketed for insomnia and sleep disturbance, but what does the evidence actually show? In this episode, we begin by examining survey data demonstrating that some individuals report improvements in sleep with CBD use. We then unpack the pharmacology, focusing on CBD’s inhibition of adenosine uptake and how this may influence sleep regulation. We also discuss a randomised controlled trial investigating CBD in insomnia, highlighting findings that may contradict anecdotal evidence. Finally, we propose a mechanism through which CBD may be more beneficial for improving sleep in individuals who consume caffeine. Join us as we explore the intersection of pharmacology, perception, and clinical data, and consider what the current evidence really tells us about CBD and sleep. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-021-00061-5 www.pnas.orgcgidoi10.1073pnas.0511232103 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11063694/ Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    25 min

  8. 16 FEB

    Episode 65: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Psychoactive Drug Interactions

    This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at monoamine oxidase inhibitors and their interactions with other substances. We begin by revisiting how MAOIs work and why inhibition of monoamine oxidase can create significant risks when combined with other drugs. Using a recent review paper as our guide, we explore reported interactions between MAOIs and commonly used psychoactive substances, and what this means for toxicity and clinical risk. We then turn to emerging research on the psychedelic compound APBT, examining its in vitro and in vivo metabolism and its activity as a potent monoamine oxidase inhibitor. This raises important questions about unrecognised MAOI activity in novel psychoactive substances and the potential for unexpected interactions. Join us as we unpack the pharmacology of MAO inhibition, interaction-driven toxicity, and what this evolving evidence means for clinical and forensic toxicology. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we discussed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41546846/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300483X26000090?via%3Dihub Link to the article Rob mentioned: https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/16/brieing-is-the-new-cheese-and-mdma-drug-craze-middle-class-women-are-trying-7548127/ Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

    21 min
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The Tox Lab is a podcast dedicated to exploring the science of toxicology and its real-world implications. Each week we aim to break down complex research, investigate real-life cases, and discuss emerging trends in toxicology. Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here: thetoxlab@gmail.com

Información

  • Creador
    The Tox Lab
  • Años de actividad
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodios
    72
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © The Tox Lab
  • Mostrar sitio web
    The Tox Lab

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