Toxication

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Toxication is the process of drug metabolism in which the metabolite of a compound is more toxic than the parent drug or chemical.

An example of toxication is the breakdown of methanol in the mammalian liver. While methanol itself is intoxicating, it is not directly poisonous. However, its metabolites are formic acid and formaldehyde, which can cause severe acidosis, damage to the optic nerve, and other life-threatening complications.

While toxication is generally undesirable, in certain cases it is required for the in vivo conversion of a drug or chemical to a metabolite with desired pharmacological or toxicological activity.

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