Antidotes

ANTIDOTES

  • Ideally an antidote is a substance fully capable of arresting the action of a poison without itself having unwanted additional effects on the patient.
  • The term 'mithridatic' derived from the name of King Mithridates has been used synonymus with antidotes. The term 'theriac' has also become synonymous with 'antidote'. This word comes from the poetic treatise Theriaca by Nicander which dealt with poisonous animals and his poem 'Alexipharmaca' was about antidotes.
  • There are a number of specific antidotes that are commonly used in toxicology. The following is a partial list:
    • Ethanol, 4-methylpyrazole for ethylene glycol
    • N-Acetylcysteine for acetaminophen
    • Ammonium molybdate for copper
    • Antivenins and antitoxins for snake, spider, and bacterial toxins
    • EDTA, DMPS for lead and arsenic
    • Methylene blue, ascorbic acid for methemoglobinemia
    • Vitamin K1 for anticoagulants
    • Atropine sulfate, 2-PAM for anticholinesterases
    • Sodium nitrite, sodium thiosulfate for cyanide
    • Antibodies for digoxin
Last modified: Saturday, 14 May 2011, 5:16 AM