How Your Doctor Evaluates a Toxic Exposure Overdoses and Poisonings Overdoses and poisonings have been a common cause of death, both accidental and intentional, throughout the history of mankind. It was 2,400 years ago that the famous philosopher Socrates was condemned to die by drinking the poison hemlock. Even drugs you might consider fairly harmless can cause serious health problems if you take too much of them.
Children are the most common victims of household poisonings.
Sources include medications, various cosmetic products, certain house and garden plants, leaded paint, gasoline and other solvents, swimming pool chemicals, weed killers, pesticides, rodenticides, cleaning products, and carbon monoxide from faulty heating devices. Most acute poisonings in adults are the result of either an overdose of a medication or an accidental exposure to a toxic substance used in the workplace. Testing to Identify the Toxin. In any case of suspected poisoning, your doctor will take a careful history whenever possible. You will be asked to identify the poison if you can, as well as the amount or duration of exposure, time elapsed since exposure, symptoms, and any medications currently being used.