What factors increase the toxicity of a medication?

The factors that increase the toxicity of a medication generally include higher concentrations and the type of compounds involved. Higher concentration agents have more of the active substance present, which can lead to an increased risk of adverse effects or toxicity.

Ionic agents are often associated with increased toxicity due to their ability to dissociate in solution, potentially leading to a greater bioavailability in the system compared to non-ionic agents. This can result in higher systemic absorption and increased interaction with body systems that may cause toxic effects.

In contrast, non-ionic agents are typically designed to be less toxic and have fewer adverse effects, particularly in imaging contexts like radiology, where they are favored for their better tolerability and lower frequency of side effects.

Therefore, when you combine higher concentration agents with ionic agents, the resulting combination can significantly raise the likelihood of toxicity due to both increased dosage and the chemical properties of the ionic agents.