Medical Toxicology

Medical toxicology is a subspecialty of toxicology that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of poisoning and other side effects from medications, cosmetics, personal care items, occupational and environmental toxicants, and biological agents. Medical toxicology is primarily concerned with prognostic markers of poisoning severity and therapy predictions. Medical toxicology and clinical toxicology are closely related, with the latter comprising non-physicians as well (generally pharmacists or scientists). Medical toxicologists are experts in preventing, evaluating, treating, and monitoring harm and disease caused by medications, chemicals, biological, and radioactive agents. Medical toxicologists work in a variety of settings, including clinical, academic, governmental, and public health settings, as well as leading poison control centers. Acute drug poisoning, adverse drug events, drug abuse, addiction, and withdrawal, chemicals and hazardous materials, terrorist preparedness, venomous bites and stings, and environmental and workplace exposures are all important areas of medical toxicology.