Additionally, toxicity happens after the accumulation of one prescription drug. Overdose, on the other hand, can occur quickly after someone digests too much of any substance or combination.

What is toxicity of a drug?

Toxicity refers to how poisonous or harmful a substance can be. In the context of pharmacology, drug toxicity occurs when a person has accumulated too much of a drug in his bloodstream, leading to adverse effects on the body.

Is acute toxicity the same as overdose?

This Reference Guide focuses on completing the death certificate for a particular category of deaths—deaths due to acute toxicity involving drugs. Acute drug toxicity deaths are sometimes referred to as overdose or poisoning deaths (3).