Expert Opinions in Drug Toxicology

Many of the drugs currently in use have, in addition to their main effect, desired and undesired side effects that limit their use, if, as a consequence of these side effects, a damage (e.g. the damage of an organ) may occur, which cannot be accepted despite a proven major therapeutic effect. Examples include the impairment of hearing of certain antibiotics, and the nephrotoxic effects of some analgesics and lipid-lowering agents (medicines used to reduce the content of cholesterol and/or neutral fats in the blood).

Thus, expert opinions in drug toxicology are focused primarily on the toxicological evaluation of the active ingredients of medicines in terms of whether the toxic side effects to be expected may be unacceptably dangerous to a patient, especially under consideration of the patient´s main morbidity and comorbidities.