David Juurlink
@davidjuurlink.bsky.social
Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, and drug safety research at the University of Toronto. Inexplicably fortunate husband.
Did a Celebrated Researcher Obscure a Baby’s Poisoning?
He sure did.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
He sure did.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Did a Celebrated Researcher Obscure a Baby’s Poisoning?
After a newborn died of opioid poisoning, a new branch of pediatrics came into being. But the evidence doesn’t add up.
www.newyorker.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Did a Celebrated Researcher Obscure a Baby’s Poisoning?
He sure did.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
He sure did.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Why is a 20-year-old study "still under fire"?
Because:
- it was wrong
- the lead author lied to conceal it
- millions of women and infants were harmed
- other death investigations were misled
- when shown this, major institutions looked away
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Because:
- it was wrong
- the lead author lied to conceal it
- millions of women and infants were harmed
- other death investigations were misled
- when shown this, major institutions looked away
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
February 10, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Why is a 20-year-old study "still under fire"?
Because:
- it was wrong
- the lead author lied to conceal it
- millions of women and infants were harmed
- other death investigations were misled
- when shown this, major institutions looked away
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Because:
- it was wrong
- the lead author lied to conceal it
- millions of women and infants were harmed
- other death investigations were misled
- when shown this, major institutions looked away
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Reposted by David Juurlink
This story is jaw dropping: one very bad actor, but also scientific journals (the Lancet!), a medical examiner, a hospital, & other establishment pillars who were taken in & now refuse to correct the record. Victims include not just baby who died but others removed from parents based on bad science.
I’ve spent 15 years challenging a flawed explanation for an infant’s death. Credit to The New Yorker for patient investigative journalism that corrected the record when institutions did not.
A paper by a renowned toxicologist argued for the first case of opioid overdose by breast milk in history. But in the years that followed, researchers began to suspect that the science was bunk. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/AUASqK
February 5, 2026 at 7:08 PM
This story is jaw dropping: one very bad actor, but also scientific journals (the Lancet!), a medical examiner, a hospital, & other establishment pillars who were taken in & now refuse to correct the record. Victims include not just baby who died but others removed from parents based on bad science.
For nearly 20 years, breastfeeding women have been cautioned against codeine, based largely on a single case report. The Lancet has now issued an Expression of Concern about that paper.
February 4, 2026 at 4:56 AM
For nearly 20 years, breastfeeding women have been cautioned against codeine, based largely on a single case report. The Lancet has now issued an Expression of Concern about that paper.
Oh, it *will* make noise
terrific new Ben Taub piece — it cracks a long-cold case of infanticide; it's a bombshell for maternal health, child protection & opiate toxicology protocols; it exposes the Lancet’s scandalous indifference to validity of what it publishes — it should make noise
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Did a Celebrated Researcher Obscure a Baby’s Poisoning?
After a newborn died of opioid poisoning, a new branch of pediatrics came into being. But the evidence doesn’t add up.
www.newyorker.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Oh, it *will* make noise
Reposted by David Juurlink
Absolutely wild story even for those of us who know the context of Motherisk (!)
I’ve spent 15 years challenging a flawed explanation for an infant’s death. Credit to The New Yorker for patient investigative journalism that corrected the record when institutions did not.
A paper by a renowned toxicologist argued for the first case of opioid overdose by breast milk in history. But in the years that followed, researchers began to suspect that the science was bunk. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/AUASqK
January 28, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Absolutely wild story even for those of us who know the context of Motherisk (!)
Reposted by David Juurlink
This story is so wild and so well told. I woke my husband up gasping at the "we made it up" part.
I’ve spent 15 years challenging a flawed explanation for an infant’s death. Credit to The New Yorker for patient investigative journalism that corrected the record when institutions did not.
A paper by a renowned toxicologist argued for the first case of opioid overdose by breast milk in history. But in the years that followed, researchers began to suspect that the science was bunk. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/AUASqK
January 27, 2026 at 2:47 PM
This story is so wild and so well told. I woke my husband up gasping at the "we made it up" part.
I’ve spent 15 years challenging a flawed explanation for an infant’s death. Credit to The New Yorker for patient investigative journalism that corrected the record when institutions did not.
A paper by a renowned toxicologist argued for the first case of opioid overdose by breast milk in history. But in the years that followed, researchers began to suspect that the science was bunk. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/AUASqK
Did a Celebrated Researcher Obscure a Baby’s Poisoning?
After a newborn died of opioid poisoning, a new branch of pediatrics came into being. But the evidence doesn’t add up.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
January 26, 2026 at 10:02 PM
I’ve spent 15 years challenging a flawed explanation for an infant’s death. Credit to The New Yorker for patient investigative journalism that corrected the record when institutions did not.
New rule: If you order the D-Dimer, you have to interpret the D-Dimer
January 8, 2026 at 1:39 PM
New rule: If you order the D-Dimer, you have to interpret the D-Dimer
For those contemplating a detox or cleanse in the new year, here’s a toxicologist’s explanation of how they work:
They don't.
They don't.
December 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
For those contemplating a detox or cleanse in the new year, here’s a toxicologist’s explanation of how they work:
They don't.
They don't.
We've all seen firsthand how well opioids can work when first given. But they are at their pharmacologic best in the initial days of treatment.
Continue them for weeks, months, or years and the calculus becomes progressively less favourable.
Continue them for weeks, months, or years and the calculus becomes progressively less favourable.
October 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We've all seen firsthand how well opioids can work when first given. But they are at their pharmacologic best in the initial days of treatment.
Continue them for weeks, months, or years and the calculus becomes progressively less favourable.
Continue them for weeks, months, or years and the calculus becomes progressively less favourable.
Canadian MDs are relying less on opioids. That is a good thing. New commentary from me in @cmaj.ca
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
Opioid prescribing in Canada: a continued retreat from God’s own medicine
[See related article at www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.250670][1]
Key points
In this issue’s research article, Rebić and colleagues show that rates of opioid prescribing across 6 Canadian provin...
www.cmaj.ca
October 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Canadian MDs are relying less on opioids. That is a good thing. New commentary from me in @cmaj.ca
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
PSA: When a naturopath recommends chelation “to remove the metal from your body,” that is exactly what you should not do.
October 9, 2025 at 10:50 PM
PSA: When a naturopath recommends chelation “to remove the metal from your body,” that is exactly what you should not do.
Join us for UofT Therapeutics Day November 1st
- drug interactions
- NSAID allergy
- within-class safety differences
- complex polypharmacy
- pharmacogenetics
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- buprenorphine
Register here: eventbrite.com/e/the-drugs-we…
- drug interactions
- NSAID allergy
- within-class safety differences
- complex polypharmacy
- pharmacogenetics
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- buprenorphine
Register here: eventbrite.com/e/the-drugs-we…
September 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Join us for UofT Therapeutics Day November 1st
- drug interactions
- NSAID allergy
- within-class safety differences
- complex polypharmacy
- pharmacogenetics
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- buprenorphine
Register here: eventbrite.com/e/the-drugs-we…
- drug interactions
- NSAID allergy
- within-class safety differences
- complex polypharmacy
- pharmacogenetics
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- buprenorphine
Register here: eventbrite.com/e/the-drugs-we…
Reposted by David Juurlink
Drs. Jessica Kent Rice @jessicakentrice.bsky.social & David Juurlink @davidjuurlink.bsky.social study on trends in opioid agonist therapy retention after non-fatal #OpioidOverdose: www.psifoundation.org/funded-resea... #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay #IOAD2025 @sunnybrookhsc.bsky.social
Funded Research - PSI Foundation
List of projects funded by PSI Foundation.
www.psifoundation.org
August 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Drs. Jessica Kent Rice @jessicakentrice.bsky.social & David Juurlink @davidjuurlink.bsky.social study on trends in opioid agonist therapy retention after non-fatal #OpioidOverdose: www.psifoundation.org/funded-resea... #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay #IOAD2025 @sunnybrookhsc.bsky.social
Toronto-area MDs and pharmacists: Join us for Therapeutics Day 2025
- Relevant topics
- Great speakers (but also me)
- You will be fed
- You will get CE credits
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr447y5n
- Relevant topics
- Great speakers (but also me)
- You will be fed
- You will get CE credits
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr447y5n
August 13, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Toronto-area MDs and pharmacists: Join us for Therapeutics Day 2025
- Relevant topics
- Great speakers (but also me)
- You will be fed
- You will get CE credits
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr447y5n
- Relevant topics
- Great speakers (but also me)
- You will be fed
- You will get CE credits
Register here: tinyurl.com/mr447y5n
I'm not saying these "ivermectin cured my cancer" testimonials are entirely fabricated but THEORETICALLY if someone:
1) no longer had a medical license, and
2) profited from pushing ivermectin, and
3) had no qualms about lying to desperate people ...
Just putting this out there
1) no longer had a medical license, and
2) profited from pushing ivermectin, and
3) had no qualms about lying to desperate people ...
Just putting this out there
May 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I'm not saying these "ivermectin cured my cancer" testimonials are entirely fabricated but THEORETICALLY if someone:
1) no longer had a medical license, and
2) profited from pushing ivermectin, and
3) had no qualms about lying to desperate people ...
Just putting this out there
1) no longer had a medical license, and
2) profited from pushing ivermectin, and
3) had no qualms about lying to desperate people ...
Just putting this out there
Reposted by David Juurlink
🚨 ICYMI - #Opioids prescribing webinar recording featuring pharmacologist @davidjuurlink.bsky.social 🚨
💊 What have we learned about #prescribing?
💊 How should we treat pain when opioids overdoses have become an intractable epidemic?
👉🏽 ti.ubc.ca/juurlink-ana...
#pain #MedEd #medsafety
💊 What have we learned about #prescribing?
💊 How should we treat pain when opioids overdoses have become an intractable epidemic?
👉🏽 ti.ubc.ca/juurlink-ana...
#pain #MedEd #medsafety
Dr. David Juurlink: Relieving pain in the era of fentanyl
YouTube video by Therapeutics Initiative
www.youtube.com
May 16, 2025 at 4:58 PM
🚨 ICYMI - #Opioids prescribing webinar recording featuring pharmacologist @davidjuurlink.bsky.social 🚨
💊 What have we learned about #prescribing?
💊 How should we treat pain when opioids overdoses have become an intractable epidemic?
👉🏽 ti.ubc.ca/juurlink-ana...
#pain #MedEd #medsafety
💊 What have we learned about #prescribing?
💊 How should we treat pain when opioids overdoses have become an intractable epidemic?
👉🏽 ti.ubc.ca/juurlink-ana...
#pain #MedEd #medsafety
Every time I hear someone mention tramadol
May 8, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Every time I hear someone mention tramadol
To sum up:
- Carbapenems lower VPA concentrations abruptly and dramatically
- They do this by tinkering with VPA metabolism
- Consider carbapenems in patients with severe VPA toxicity and those you expect to develop it
/end
- Carbapenems lower VPA concentrations abruptly and dramatically
- They do this by tinkering with VPA metabolism
- Consider carbapenems in patients with severe VPA toxicity and those you expect to develop it
/end
April 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
To sum up:
- Carbapenems lower VPA concentrations abruptly and dramatically
- They do this by tinkering with VPA metabolism
- Consider carbapenems in patients with severe VPA toxicity and those you expect to develop it
/end
- Carbapenems lower VPA concentrations abruptly and dramatically
- They do this by tinkering with VPA metabolism
- Consider carbapenems in patients with severe VPA toxicity and those you expect to develop it
/end
In the second group, I start mero or erta early
It's conceptually similar to early alkalinization for ASA toxicity
/12
It's conceptually similar to early alkalinization for ASA toxicity
/12
April 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
In the second group, I start mero or erta early
It's conceptually similar to early alkalinization for ASA toxicity
/12
It's conceptually similar to early alkalinization for ASA toxicity
/12
The second is people *expected* to get sick, generally those who ingest >300-400 mg/kg
/11
/11
April 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The second is people *expected* to get sick, generally those who ingest >300-400 mg/kg
/11
/11
The first is easy: the sickest of the sick
If you're contemplating hemo, you should be contemplating mero or erta
As I wrote:
/10
If you're contemplating hemo, you should be contemplating mero or erta
As I wrote:
/10
April 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The first is easy: the sickest of the sick
If you're contemplating hemo, you should be contemplating mero or erta
As I wrote:
/10
If you're contemplating hemo, you should be contemplating mero or erta
As I wrote:
/10
I wrote this review on the topic. It's not open access so I'll unpack the two scenarios where I think carbapenems should be considered.
/9
bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
/9
bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
BPS Publications
Severe valproic acid (VPA) overdose is characterized by coma (sometimes with cerebral oedema), respiratory depression, hypotension and metabolic abnormalities. Traditional management of VPA poisoning...
bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I wrote this review on the topic. It's not open access so I'll unpack the two scenarios where I think carbapenems should be considered.
/9
bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
/9
bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
A few case reports describe using mero or erta for VPA toxicity, like this one
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
/8
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
/8
April 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
A few case reports describe using mero or erta for VPA toxicity, like this one
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
/8
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
/8