TOXICOLOGY Flashcards
It is the study of toxic drugs or poisons.
Toxicology
It is any substance that, when taken in sufficient quantity, causes sickness or death.
Toxicant (poison)
It y is a relative term used to compare one substance with another
Toxicity
a toxic substance is one with a toxicity defined as what?
defined as “extremely” or “super” toxic
This is one with a toxicity defined as “extremely” or “super” toxic.
A toxic substance
Specific drugs considered to be what?
toxicants
Some of these drugs are also considered to be therapeutic in nature
True or false
true
Absorption of toxins in the GIT is by what?
by passive diffusion
this process requires
that the substance cross cellular barriers.
Passive diffusion
Tese toxins do not produce systemic effects but may produce local effects
Toxins that are not absorbed from the GIT
What are the local effects produced by toxins that are not absorbed from the GIT?
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding
- Malabsorption of nutrients
What are the common substances for ACUTE TOXICITY?
- alcohol
- acetaminophen
- salicylate
- abuse substance
- carbon monoxide
What are the routes of exposure of toxic substances?
- ingestion
- inhalation
- transdermal absorption
This refers to a single, short-term exposure to a substance
Acute toxicity
It refers to the repeated exposure for extended period of time
Chronic toxicity
This refers to the dose that would be predicted to produce a toxic response in 50% of the population
TD 50
This refers to the dose that would predict death in 50% of the population
LD 50
This refers to the dose that would be predicted to be effective or have a
therapeutic benefit in 50% of the population.
ED 50
These are anti-inflammatory agents and painkillers.
ANALGESICS
These drugs are also considered to be therapeutic
ANALGESICS
This is considered toxic at a serum level of >90 mg/dL 6 hours following ingestion.
Salicylate (aspirin)
Salicylate (aspirin) is considered toxic at a serum level of what?
more than 90 mg/dL
Salicylate (aspirin) is considered toxic at a serum level of >90 mg/dL how many hours after ingestion?
6 hours following ingestion
The time since ingestion must be known to
determine what?
to determine severity of toxicity.
Salicylate intoxication results in the following:
- stimulation of the respiratory system with initial respiratory alkalosis
- conversion of pyruvate to lactate
- inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation
- breakdown of fatty acids to produce ketoacids
- Eventually, metabolic acidosis occurs.
Renal clearance of salicylate can be increased by what?
by forced alkaline diuresis.
This can be increased by forced alkaline diuresis.
Renal clearance of salicylate
Acetaminophe, if present in the serum is at how much?
present in serum at 300 mcg/mL
How long does acetaminophen manifest after ingestion?
2 hours after ingestion
This drug induces hepatic toxicity
Acetaminophen
This drug induces hepatic toxicity
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen induces what?
induces hepatic toxicity
What is critical in determining acetaminophen intoxication?
time since ingestion
Intoxication of Acetaminophen results in what?
hepatocystic necrosis
hepatocystic necrosis due to intoxication of acetaminophen occurs WHEN?
3 to 4 days after overdose
Intoxication of acetaminophen results in hepatocystic necrosis because of what?
because of the inability of the liver to adequately conjugate the
metabolite of acetaminophen (i.e.,acetamidoquinone) to glutathione.
Intoxication of acetaminophen results in hepatocystic necrosis because of the inability of the liver to adequately conjugate the what?
the metabolite of acetaminophen (i.e.,acetamidoquinone) to glutathione.
This induces hepatocyte death.
High levels of acetamidoquinone in the liver
What is the effective antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
Nacetylcysteine
This is thought to act as a glutathione substitute and binds to the metabolite.
Nacetylcysteine
Nacetylcysteine is thought to act as a what?
glutathione substitute and binds to the metabolite
These are are short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting sedatives that exert a tranquilizing effect through their depressant effect on the CNS.
BARBITURATES
What are the short-acting barbituates?
pento-, secobarbital
What are the short-acting barbituates?
pento-, secobarbital
What are the intermediate-acting barbiturates?
amo-, β-,
butabarbital
What is an example of a long-acting barbiturate?
phenobarbital
These are sedatives that exert a
tranquilizing effect through their depressant effect on the CNS.
Barbiturates
barbiturates can be considered as substances of abuse or as analgesics
true or false
true
Barbiturate intoxication results in what?
results in
- cardiac arrest
- respiratory depression
Barbiturate intoxication results in cardiac arrest and respiratory depression through its effect on the what?
through its effect on the CNS
There are no real antidotes for barbiturate overdose
true or false
true
There are no real antidotes for barbiturate overdose except for what?
except the (1) establishment
of an open airway, (2) aiding respiration, and (3) maintaining cardiac output.
These are also called opioids
narcotics
These are compounds that include heroin, morphine, codeine, and methadone.
Narcotics
Narcotics include what drugs?
- heroin
- morphine
- codeine
- methadone
Most of these drugs are habit forming and can be considered drugs of abuse.
Narcotics
What are the toxic effects of narcotic overdose/intoxication?
- depression of respiration
- coma
depression of respiration due to narcotics intoxication is caused by what?
caused by a decreased sensitivity to carbon dioxide
Heroin is
metabolized by the what?
by the liver
heroin is excreted by the what?
excreted by the kidney
heroin is metabolized by the liver to form what?
to form morphine
heroin is excreted by the kidney as what?
morphine glucuronide
What is the effective antidote for narcotic overdose?
naloxone
This is a narcotic antagonist
naloxone
These exist as organic complexes
PESTICIDES
What are the 2 types of pesticides?
- organophosphates
- carbamates
This is the largest single group of pesticides
organophosphates
These compounds inhibit AChE (Acetylcholinesterase)
PESTICIDES
Pesticides inhibit what enzyme?
AChE
What are the specific effects of AChE inhibition?
- effects on the heart
- respiratory centers
- muscle cramps
- certain CNS effects
What is the method used for the determination of pesticide poisoning?
the examination of PChE (Pseudocholinesterase)
This an isoenzyme of AChE found in serum
PChE
What is the effective antidote for pesticide poisoning?
atropine sulfate
This is a tasteless gas with 200-fold greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen.
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE is a tasteless gas with an affinity of what?
200-fold greater affinity
During carbon monoxide poisoning, hemoglobin cannot adequately exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen
true or false
true
During carbon monoxide poisoning, why cant hemoglobin adequately exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen?
because of the increased amount of carboxyhemoglobin present.
During carbon monoxide poisoning, hemoglobin cannot adequately exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide because of the increased amount of carboxyhemoglobin present.
true or false
carbon dioxide for oxygen
false
During carbon monoxide poisoning, hemoglobin cannot adequately exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide because of the increased amount of carboxyhemoglobin present.
true or false
carbon dioxide for oxygen
false
What is the effective antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning?
- removal of the source of carbon monoxide
- removal of the victim from the
source
This includes intoxication by the heavy metals lead, arsenic, and mercury.
METAL POISONING
METAL POISONING includes intoxication by what?
- by the heavy metals (i.e., lead, arsenic, and mercury)
This is most typically caused by lead paint ingestion or continuous exposure to lead in the soil.
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is most typically caused by what?
- lead paint ingestion
- continuous exposure to lead in the soil.
This is found primarily in RBCs in intoxicated victims
Lead
What are the widespread effects of lead intoxication?
- gastrointestinal irritation
- weight loss
- kidney damage
- convulsions
- in children, altered cognition and
encephalopathy.
In lead intoxication, death occurs because of what?
because of
- peripheral vascular collapse
- brain involvement.
What are the antidotes for lead intoxication/metal poisoning?
- Administration of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
- penicillamine
- other lead chelates that bind the lead
In lead intoxication, other lead chelates that bind the lead and allow it to be excreted by the what?
by the kidney.
These can determine the occurrence of lead poisoning after serum and urine lead levels have returned to normal
Examination of urinary ALA levels and RBC protoporphyrins