The Hormetic Drug Response Is A Controversial Dichotomy

The term, ‘hormesis’, is derived from the Greek word meaning, ‘rapid motion and eagerness’. It is used to describe what happens when a small amount of a normally toxic substance or drug has a beneficial effect when compared with the detrimental effect of a higher dose. A good example of the hormetic effect comes from over the counter analgesics. At the correct dose, they relieve pain. Taken at too high a dose, however, and they can cause liver damage or intestinal bleeding.

The first description of hormesis came from Germany in 1888, when pharmacologist Hugo Schulz discovered that small doses of poisons stimulated the growth of yeast cultures. At around the same time, physician Rudolph Arndt was conducting experiments with animals given low doses of drugs. This work led to the formulation of the Arndt Schulz Rule.

According to the Arndt-Schulz Rule, small doses of a substance stimulate, large doses kill and medium-sized doses inhibit. Some people believe that the idea of a beneficial effect should be completely removed from the definition of hormesis. In many cases, low doses of a substance do not always produce the desired result.

At high doses, some chemotherapeutic drugs inhibit the proliferation of cells. This inhibits the growth of the tumor and is beneficial to the patient. However, lower doses may actually stimulate cell division, tipping the balance in favor of the tumor and not the patient.

Another example is the use of antibiotics to control bacterial infections. A high dose kills the germs and makes the patient well and better. However, low doses may kill off some of the bacteria, leaving the stronger variants to proliferate, making the patient sicker.

Discussions of hormesis are becoming more widespread among scientists and doctors. The actual definition of the term is still a subject of controversy. Before changing the dosage of your own medication, always check with your regular physician.

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