Toxicology and Pharmacology

• Toxicology


  The study of poisons
• Postmortem Drug testing


  Drug testing with the goal of determining whether drugs were the cause or contributing factor in a death
• Work Place Drug Testing


  Testing job applicants and employees for illegal drugs in their system
• Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (The stages in which a drug moves through the body)


  ADME stands for
• Opiates


  A large class of drugs distinguished by their ability to caused euphoria and relieve pain. Includes: Oxycodone, Fentanyl, morphine, heroin
• Depressants


  Opiates are classified as...
• Amphetamine


  A large class of drugs that creates an excitatory condition, wakefulness and euphoria. Includes: methamphetamines,
• Stimulants

  Amphetamines are classified as...
• Anorexic


  Appetite Supressent
• Cocaine


  Substance derived from the erythroxylin cocoa plant that creates and excitatory condition, state of wakefulness and euphoria
• Cannabinoids


  Marijuana and other parts of the plant Cannabis with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the active ingredient
• Stimulant

  Cocaine is classified as...
• Depressants


  Cannabinoids are classified as..
• Polypharmacy


  A mixture of drugs
• Gas Chromatography

  Gas flowing through a coated tube separates compounds by their size, weight and chemical reactivity with the coating of the tube or column
• Cyanide


  Toxic chemical inhibits the electron transport chain in the mitochondria of cells. Most toxic in its gaseous state. Levels above 2500 ng/ml are fatal.
• Carbon Monoxide


  Toxic gas that is formed in combustion. This gas binds to hemoglobin more tightly than blood and prevents the blood from carrying oxygen. Levels above 60% in the blood are fatal.
• Methemoglobin


  Oxidized form of hemoglobin. The antidote to cyanide poisoning.
• Immunoassays


  Tests using antibodies that react with a drug or substance that recognizes the antibody
• Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC)


  The use of a solvent that travels through a porous medium to separate compounds based on their chemical affinity with the solvent and the medium
• GC-MS


  Acronym of Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry
• Mass Spectrometry


  Technique based on the detection of vaporized molecules and their ionized fragments. The detection and display of the spectra are based on the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions.
• LC-MS


  Analytical instrument that combines a liquid chromatography with a mass spectrometery. Detects more compounds than than GC-MS
• Tandem Mass Spectrometers (LC-MS^n)


  A detection system with more than one mass spectrometer in a series. (n refers to the number of MS units)
• Colorimetric testing


  A device used to characterize color using a spectrometer. Used to test for the presence of metals.
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)


  A form of mass spectrometry used to detect inorganic materials and metals
• Toxicogenomics


  A persons genetic factors that effect the efficacy of a drug or poison in their system
• Toxicokinetics

  How drugs and poisons move through the body
• LD50


  Dose of poison that kill 50% of the population
• Postmortem Redistribution


  Concentration changes in a drug that occur after death as the drug is redistributed throughout the body.
• Controlled Substances Act (CSA)


  Legislation in the US that defines illegal drugs and classifies them by Schedules
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)


  The US government agency responsible for regulation of controlled drugs
• Schedule I Drugs

  Drugs with a high potential for abuse and addiction and no accepted medical application (Heroin, LSD, marijuana)
• Schedule II Drugs

  Drugs with a high potential for abuse and addiction but some accepted medical uses. ( Morphine, cocaine methamphetamine)
• Schedule III Drugs

  Drugs with a lower potential for abuse and addiction and accepted medical use. ( anabolic steroids, codeine and barbiturates)
• Schedule IV drugs

  Drugs with a fairly low risk for abuse and addiction with many accepted medical uses. ( Valium)
• Schedule V Drugs

  Drugs with almost no risk for abuse/ addiction and many medical uses. ( Codeine cough medicines)
• Cutting Agents


  Something added to a illicit drug to reduce its concetration
• SWGDRUG

  Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs
• ASTM


  American Society for Testing and Materials