Is it possible to become tolerant to poisons?

Question

I have recently read The Count of Monty Cristo by Alexander Dumas, in the book there is a conversation about building tolerance to poisons. The book used a example of a posion called Brucine which does exist and is used to regulate high blood pressure in modern medicine.

My question is this; are there poisons that work this way? I know that Poison Ivy works the opposite where you begin with a tolerance and it goes away after a fair amount of exposure making you allergic from then on.

Thanks,

Answer 1

I would have to look up brucine, an alkaloid to see where it fits in with the rest of the poisons.

It greatly depends on the poison (including drugs). Some compounds accumulate in the body, so tolerance does not develop and the more you get the more sick you get, examples include heavy metals like lead, cadium, mercury and many other organic substances.

Some drugs that are metabolised by the liver can have increased elimination by the liver if an inducer is given to promote elimination, but humans have a limit.

Narcotics are a good example of tolerance, heroin addicts who go into rehab and come out a month later sometimes resume at their previous dose, and die of an overdose due to lost tolerance.

Poison Ivy is an allergy that quickly develops.

Answer 2

It may be possible, except in the cases of poisons that build up in the bloodstream such as lead and mercury.

Two I can think that allow you to develop a tolerance are morphine, alcohol and cigarettes (3 of the 4 food groups).

Answer 3

I believe you can, but I woudn't try it. A possible way would be if a person could develop antibodies to the exact poison and afterwards he or she would be immune to the poison at reasonable levels.