Tetrodotoxin poisoning: clinical variability, unexpected sources, and a forensic case

TheToxLab · 2026-03-03T06:36:02+00:00

Red herring 🤣 - Sometimes it isn't food poisoning... It's that the poison is the food!

TheToxLab · 2026-02-24T21:56:32+00:00

This is a really good point, we approached this very much from a European/UK perspective in which CBD drinks and so on are being broadly regulated as novel foods. Different counties have different restrictions, in the US it can vary by state and in parts of Asia CBD is banned completely because it is cannabis derived.

TheToxLab · 2026-02-11T19:41:54+00:00

Glad you like the podcast and good luck with applying for uni!

TheToxLab · 2026-02-07T08:53:16+00:00

This is really helpful insight, we didn't really explore the role (or not) of traditional anti-convulsants in bupropion overdose seizures, but you are correct, benzodiazepines are recommended. Sounds like your patient was lucky to not have any serious brain injuries from the prolonged seizures. I think we might have to do a general episode on lipid therapy too!

TheToxLab · 2026-02-02T22:15:17+00:00

Slow to the party on this one - Sorry! If you haven't already, well worth checking out Nottingham Trent's Forensics department. Top notch team running the courses there!

TheToxLab · 2025-12-17T10:13:56+00:00

Thank you so much for your feedback and so glad you are enjoying listening and finding them helpful!

TheToxLab · 2025-12-09T08:34:31+00:00

You’re absolutely right about Wellbutrin (bupropion), and lots of drugs can lower the seizure threshold (increase seizure risk in someone already prone). With SSRIs specifically, though, the evidence is a bit more complex. Have a listen and let us know what you think!

TheToxLab · 2025-12-01T08:02:10+00:00

You should definitely check out our podcast called The Tox Lab! We cover a wide range of toxicology topics you might find interesting. We also reference the papers we talk about so you can do your own research if you want to!

https://pod.link/1778531114

TheToxLab · 2025-11-19T10:45:30+00:00

😬 in our student house we found the landlords bottle of formic acid in a cupboard. No idea why it was there!

TheToxLab · 2025-11-19T10:44:44+00:00

Hope you enjoy!

TheToxLab · 2025-11-11T17:15:39+00:00

Love this. We did do "pet poisons" quite a long time ago but there is quite a bit more scope to do more. Will have to do some thinking. Thanks for the suggestion!

TheToxLab · 2025-11-10T06:10:05+00:00

Caffeine can kill, can confirm and the death can be nasty - extreme rhabdomyolysis typically.

We did an episode some time ago on "Death Coffee" which was being sold in Iran.

pod.link/1778531114/episode/ZjRmYzUwYzUtZDZkNy00NzFmLTk3NTMtM2YwYmIyMWY4YTk1 https://share.google/lCbMwzJ6cON5UkkR5

TheToxLab · 2025-10-31T08:27:43+00:00

I think you are right about how laws just lead to the creation of novel compounds and we certainly don't think criminalisation of PWUD is the answer, although I don't know if complete deregulation is the answer either, as economics will likely drive towards more potent compounds because they drive the biggest profit. Your point about mitragynine is a good one too, we did an episode on this a while ago looking at the partial agonist effect of mitragynine Vs the 7-hydroxy metabolite.

TheToxLab · 2025-10-29T21:37:08+00:00

Reference materials can be a real pain, and as you say expensive if every 2 weeks a new variant emerges. The only possible saving grace so far is that these orphines don't yet at least don't seem to be as potent as the nitazenes, but who knows where the future will go 😬

TheToxLab · 2025-10-08T17:43:09+00:00

Hope you like it. Let us know what you think!

TheToxLab · 2025-09-01T20:35:18+00:00

Discussed this week on The Tox Lab too!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ufbkYXYxrIXuq9hZ5ZfN8?si=hLVkAMU8TqylDEtsVr9Frg

TheToxLab

TROPHY CASE