The Tox Lab
Episodes
Episode 70: Poison Centre Data – Insights into Drug Trends and Toxicology Surveillance
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 toxicovigilanc...
Episode 69: Alcohol – Fatal Complications of Chronic Misuse
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Episode 68: Dopamine Agonists – Impulse Control Disorders and Gambling in Parkinson’s Therapy
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring dopamine agonists and their role in the development of impulse-related conditions such as gambling disorde...
Episode 67: Tetrodotoxin Toxicity – From Pufferfish to Forensic Casework
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing tetrodotoxin, the potent neurotoxin most commonly associated with pufferfish.We cover a clinical case of ...
Episode 66: CBD and Sleep – Clinical Evidence and Emerging Mechanisms
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 65: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Psychoactive Drug Interactions
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 revisi...
Episode 64: Are Nitazenes Being Missed? Stability in Post-Mortem Toxicology
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring the stability of nitazenes in post-mortem samples and what this means for toxicological interpretation.We ...
Episode 63: Bupropion Toxicity – Mechanisms of Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at bupropion and its distinctive toxicity profile in overdose.We explore a case of bupropion ov...
Episode 62: Methaqualone (Quaaludes) – From 1970s Sedative to Modern Analogues
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at quaaludes and their modern analogues.Once synonymous with a particular era of drug use, quaa...
Episode 61: Naloxone in the Age of Nitazenes and Ultra-Potent Synthetic Opioids
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring naloxone and its effectiveness in the context of novel synthetic opioid overdoses.Naloxone remains a corne...
Episode 60: Detecting Harm Early - Drug Early Warning Systems Explained
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring early warning systems and their growing role in toxicology and public health.We break down the core princi...
Episode 59: When Is Toxicology Biochemistry? Exploring Drugs That Alter Glucose Metabolism
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to The Tox Lab! We are kicking off 2026 by exploring drugs that disrupt metabolism and the consequences that can follow.In this episode, ...
Episode 58: Marzipan, Almonds and Cyanide — A Toxicology Christmas Special
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re closing out the year with a festive twist as we explore the link between marzipan, bitter almonds, and cyanide.We ta...
Episode 57: SSRIs and Seizure Risk - Rethinking Serotonin in Epilepsy
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at serotonin and its intriguing role in both depression and epilepsy.We review recent data exam...
Episode 56: Cannabis and Heart Health — Unpacking the Evidence Behind Cardiovascular Risk
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we are examining the growing evidence around cannabis and cardiovascular risk.We start with a recent systematic review and m...
Episode 55: Space Oil – Etomidate in the Drug Supply and Its Toxicological Risks
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into the emerging world of “space oil”, the anesthetic drug etomidate, which has begun appearing in the r...
Episode 54: From Nits to Novichok — A Deep Dive into Organophosphates
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at organophosphates, a diverse group of compounds used everywhere from agriculture to chemical ...
Episode 53: From Cosmetics to Creatures – A Mix of Unusual Poisonings
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring a series of fascinating and unusual poisoning cases, each with its own toxic twist.From hair straightening...
Episode 52: Errors in Toxicology – When Science Gets It Wrong
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re turning our attention inward to errors in toxicology.From calibration and maintenance mistakes to reporting issues a...
Episode 51: Brorphine – Could Orphines Be the Next Nitazenes?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing brorphine — a novel synthetic opioid that briefly appeared on the drug market around 2020.We explore it...
Episode 50: One Year of The Tox Lab – Reflections, Updates, and What’s Next
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re celebrating our 50th episode — and one whole year of toxicology talk! 🎉Join us as we look back on some of our m...
Episode 49: Arsenic – A Victorian Poison in the Modern World
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re revisiting one of history’s most infamous poisons — arsenic.Once dubbed the king of poisons, arsenic still poses...
Episode 48: Mushroom Toxicology – Trends, Toxins, and Mislabelled Products
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re embracing autumn and diving into the fascinating, and sometimes dangerous, world of mushrooms.We explore ten years o...
Episode 47: Clozapine – Unpacking the Complexities of a Unique Antipsychotic
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at clozapine, a highly effective antipsychotic with a complex toxicological profile.We review a...
Episode 46: The Kappa Hypothesis - Medetomidine, Dysphoria, and Hallucinations
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing medetomidine and its unexpected association with hallucinations.We review a recent paper highlighting its...
Episode 45: Diarylethylamines – The Rise, Risks, and Disappearance of Ketamine Substitutes
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at diphenidine and other diarylethylamines — a class of drugs that briefly emerged as alterna...
Episode 44: Ozempic and GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs – Benefits, Overdose, and Counterfeits
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into the world of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including the well-known weight loss drug Ozempic.We explore how t...
Episode 43: Toxicology Mysteries – A Series of Poisoning Cases
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re shaking things up with a case-based mystery episode.We walk through four real-life poisoning cases, starting with ho...
Episode 42: 2C-B vs Tucibi (Pink Cocaine) – What’s the Difference?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re talking about 2C-B and “Tusi” — two drugs often confused, but very different in composition and effects.We exp...
Episode 41: Can One Dose Cure Addiction? The Promise and Peril of Ibogaine
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at ibogaine — a plant-derived alkaloid attracting interest as a potential treatment for addic...
Episode 40: Nicotine – From Potential Benefits to Hidden Dangers
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into the surprising sides of nicotine.Beyond its well-known risks, we explore how nicotine might have therape...
Episode 39: Plastic in the Fentanyl - Why should we care about BTMPS?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at BTMPS.A compound used as a light stabiliser in plastics, BTMPS unexpectedly surfaced in the ...
Episode 38: Death Cap Mushrooms – Amatoxins and the Erin Patterson Case
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at death cap mushrooms following the recent conclusion of the Erin Patterson case.We explore th...
Episode 37: Nitazene Metabolites in Post-Mortem Casework
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we’re diving into novel nitazene metabolites in post-mortem toxicology.We discuss findings from our own paper identifying ...
Episode 36: AI in Toxicology - Potential and Pitfalls
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we’re exploring the role of AI in toxicology. From large language models supporting drug identification to machine learning ...
Episode 35: Xylazine and Other α2 Agonists – Clinical and Forensic Perspectives
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we're diving into the world of α2 adrenergic receptor agonists. We explore how xylazine, when combined with heroin, can bot...
Episode 34: Cocaine + Alcohol – Cardiac & Hepatic Consequences
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re talking about the toxic combination of cocaine and alcohol. We explore the formation of cocaethylene, and the role both cocaine and...
Episode 33: Tianeptine – From Antidepressant to Gas Station Heroin
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Tox Lab, we're taking a closer look at tianeptine—a drug originally developed as an antidepressant, but now making headlines as “...
Episode 32: Toxic Tails - A Look at Common Pet Poisons
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs? What makes lilies so toxic to cats? In this episode of The Tox Lab, we explore the fascinating (and sometimes sur...
Episode 31: Inside the EUDA 2025 Report - Drug Trends Across Europe
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we dive into the European Drug Report 2025, breaking down the latest data on drug trends across Europe.From rising cocaine detections and s...
Episode 30: Methamphetamine Enantiomers Explained - Mirror Image Molecules in Drug Testing
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of methamphetamine enantiomers—those chemically identical but biologically distinct mirror-image molecu...
Episode 29: Delta-8 THC vs Delta-9 THC - How One Double Bond Alters Clinical Effects
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we explore the growing world of delta-8 THC—how it compares to delta-9 THC, what recent research reveals about its effects w...
Episode 28: Bicycle Day — Albert Hofmann and His Historic LSD Trip
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as routine lab work led to one of the most iconic bike rides in scientific history. In this episode, we dive into the story of Albert Hof...
Episode 27: Ketamine - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, we explore the evolving role of ketamine in clinical practice—from its antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depre...
Episode 26: Beyond Broscience: The Toxic Truth About SARMs
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, we explore the expanding role of SARMs in the performance-enhancing drug landscape. Often marketed in “research-only” pr...
Episode 25: Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine – Uncovering Kratom’s Alkaloids
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we turn our focus to mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the primary active components of kratom. We explore what these alka...
Episode 24: What is in that Vape?
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, we delve into the growing issue of adulterated vapes. We explore a study uncovering synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists ...
Episode 23: Death Coffee and Penconazole Toxicity
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we discuss a couple of interesting case reports including a case series on 'Death Coffee' and a complex suicide case involving...
Episode 22: Harold Shipman Part 2: Exhuming the Truth
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A suspicious will led to the exhumation of Kathleen Grundy—and toxicology revealed a shocking truth. In this week's episode, we examine the forensic...
Episode 21: Harold Shipman - Dr Jekyll of Hyde
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A trusted doctor. A quiet town. And a trail of unexplained deaths. In this episode, we trace Harold Shipman’s fall from promising physician to proli...
Episode 20: Nitrous Oxide: No Laughing Matter
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we explore nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. We'll discuss its historical use, pharmacological effects, potential...
Episode 19: Poppy Seed Toxicity: The Truth Behind the Bagel
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we delve into the unexpected hazards associated with poppy seed consumption. We'll explore recent cases of thebaine poisoning ...
Episode 18: A Soldier, a Smuggler, and a Cocaine Bear: Tales of Meth and Mayhem
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A WWII soldier on meth, a smuggler in freefall, and a bear on cocaine. In this week's episode, we break down Aimo Koivunen’s unbelievable survival a...
Episode 17: Decoding Time of Death: The Post-Mortem Interval and Toxicology Challenges
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Interpreting toxicology results after death isn’t always straightforward—especially when time is a factor. In this episode, we discuss the post-mo...
Episode 16: Synthetic Cathinones
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we break down synthetic cathinones, a group of powerful stimulants linked to severe health effects. We discuss what they are, ...
Episode 15: Toxic TikTok Challenges
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some viral trends are more dangerous than they seem. In this episode, we break down the toxicology behind risky TikTok challenges. From alcohol poison...
Episode 14: Have we reached peak Nitazene?
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we delve into the rising concern of nitazenes in the recreational drug market. Our discussion centers on a recent study that e...
Episode 13: Mice, Music, and Methamphetamine Toxicity
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we explore the unexpected ways loud music might influence methamphetamine toxicity in mice. We discuss the behavioural and neu...
Episode 12: Slushie Poisonings
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we delve into the chilling reality of slushie poisoning. We discuss real-life cases making headlines, explore the symptoms of...
Episode 11: The Rise of Street Benzodiazepines
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we explore the growing impact of street benzodiazepines on drug-related deaths across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Jo...
Episode 10: Elephant in the Room: The Tusko Experiment
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when scientific curiosity crosses ethical boundaries? In this week's episode, we examine the infamous 1962 experiment involving Tusko the...
Episode 9: New Year, New Risks: The deadly side of fitness fixes
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the New Year kicks off, countless resolutions center around weight loss and fitness. But in the quest for quick results, how far is too far? In thi...
Episode 8: Festive Poisons
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how toxic your festive flora is? Does Nutmeg have a dark side? In this week's episode, we discuss poinsettia, holly, and mistl...
Episode 7: Truth or Bias - self reporting vs lab testing
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode we aim to answer the question: can people really be trusted to report their own drug use? We discuss a paper by Wolfe et al. ...
Episode 6: Methanol Poisoning
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we discuss the methanol poisonings in Laos, and a paper by Doreen et al. which covers methanol poisoning from contaminated alc...
Episode 5: Swedish poisonings and sauna deaths
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode we discuss a paper by Linqvist et al. on Swedish poisoning deaths from 2000-2022 and a paper by Rhode et al. on sauna deaths ...
Episode 4: Bromazolam and Desalkylgidazepam
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, we discuss a paper by Ellefsen et al. on Bromazolam detections in post-mortem cases in Travis County Texas, and a paper by M...
Episode 3: Psychedelics
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we discuss a paper by Kopra et al. covering psychedelic- related deaths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over a 25 year ...
Episode 2: Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids and N-Ethylhexedrone
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, we discuss the recently published ONS data on deaths related to drug poisonings in England and Wales in 2023. We also discus...
Episode 1: Nitazene and Xylazine
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode we discuss the recent OHID report talking about synthetic opioid deaths in England. We also discuss a paper by Bedard et al. ...