The Tox Lab

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing MDMA, examining its pharmacology, toxicity, and the factors that influence individual susceptibility to harm. We begin by exploring how MDMA works, focusing on its effects on serotonin release, reuptake, and signalling, and the pharmacological mechanisms responsible for its desired effects and adverse reactions. We then examine a case of severe MDMA toxic...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing grey market peptides and examining the growing interest in these compounds for performance enhancement, recovery, and cosmetic purposes. We begin by exploring peptides linked to musculoskeletal healing, focusing on BPC-157 and the evidence surrounding its proposed effects. We discuss the claims made about these compounds, the current state of the research...

Bonus Episode: EUDA European Drug Report 2026 Livestream This is the recording of our YouTube livestream from the 9th June, where we unpacked the 2026 EUDA Drug Report. Join us as we explore some of the key findings from the report, discuss emerging drug trends across Europe, share our insights, and answer your questions. We hope you enjoy! Link to the 2026 EUDA Drug Report: https://www.euda.europ...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing gabapentinoids and examining the use, effectiveness, and toxicological considerations surrounding gabapentin and pregabalin. Originally developed as anti-epileptic medications, gabapentinoids have become widely used for the treatment of neuropathic pain and a range of other conditions. We begin by examining prescribing trends and discussing the evidence s...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing the life and work of one of the most influential figures in psychedelic chemistry, Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin. From his early career at Dow Chemical to his pioneering work with psychoactive compounds, Shulgin’s career helped shape the modern landscape of psychedelic research. We discuss his fascination with psychedelics, his meticulous approach to self-exp...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing novel benzodiazepines and examining recent trends in their emergence and detection. We begin by exploring the origins of novel benzodiazepines, including how these compounds have entered the drug market and the factors contributing to their continued appearance. We then turn to a paper from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) Novel Psychoactive S...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing kava and examining its history, use, and potential toxicological effects. We begin by exploring the history of kava and its longstanding cultural and social significance, before discussing reported benefits associated with its use and the reasons it continues to gain popularity. We then turn to potential harms associated with kava, examining cases of acut...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing poison dart frogs and the alkaloid epibatidine. We begin by examining recent reports surrounding the death of Alexei Navalny and the suggestion that epibatidine may have been involved. We then discuss poison dart frogs and the toxins found within them, including the discovery and isolation of epibatidine. From there, we explore its potent analgesic proper...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re back with a long-awaited update on novel synthetic opioids. We begin by discussing the April 2026 UNODC announcement on the increasingly varied forms in which synthetic opioids are being encountered, including vapes, powders, and counterfeit tablets marketed as benzodiazepines, oxycodone, and MDMA. We then turn to the emergence of orphine analogues in both the UK an...

This week on The Tox Lab, we are taking a look at the role of naloxone in risk taking behaviours, harm reduction and disparities surrounding naloxone access. We begin by discussing a study looking at the expansion of naloxone access laws in the United States, exploring whether increased availability is associated with changes in heroin use among adolescents. We then turn to a commentary paper exam...

A year after we first took a look at mitragynine (kratom), we are back with an update episode looking at how the landscape surrounding mitragynine is evolving. We begin by examining poison centre data, exploring trends in reported exposures in the US and internationally, and the increase in its use. We then discuss a case involving semi-synthetic mitragynine derivatives, including 7-hydroxymitragy...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re examining the controversial 2006 Lancet paper on codeine and fatal opioid toxicity in a breastfed infant. We begin by introducing the paper and the case at its centre, in which an infant developed fatal opioid toxicity following exposure to codeine via breast milk. We then explore the proposed mechanism, focusing on the role of CYP2D6 metabolism and how variability...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re examining pesticides and their role in toxicology. We begin by discussing a study investigating pesticide exposure in florists, highlighting occupational risks and the potential for chronic low-level exposure. We then turn to a paper analysing pesticide residue levels in commonly consumed fruits, including kiwifruit and bananas, and consider what this may mean for d...

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 ai...

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, mot...

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 drug...

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...

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 d...

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 pres...

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 a...

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...

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 discuss a recent study we have been involved in, from the unusual toxicology findings that first raised questions through to controlled stability experiments in animal models. We also examine data from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality...

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 overdose to examine the often complex clinical presentation, including seizures and cardiovascular complications, as well as the challenges of management and potential longer-term consequences. We then unpack the mechanism underlying bupropion-associate...

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, quaaludes have largely disappeared from the illicit market. But have they really gone away? We explore the history of methaqualone, how and why it fell out of use, and what has appeared in its place. We then dive into a review examining a wide range of me...

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring naloxone and its effectiveness in the context of novel synthetic opioid overdoses. Naloxone remains a cornerstone of opioid overdose management, but the emergence of highly potent synthetic opioids has raised important questions about whether standard approaches are still sufficient. We discuss clinical nitazene exposure data from Australia, examining the...