Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general/antidotes

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Antidote

Substance that can counteract a form of poisoning


Substance that can counteract a form of poisoning

An antidote is a substance that can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek term φάρμακον ἀντίδοτον (pharmakon antidoton), "(medicine) given as a remedy". An older term in English which is now rare is atterlothe, derived from "atter" ("poison, venom, morbid fluid"). Antidotes for anticoagulants are sometimes referred to as reversal agents.

The antidotes for some particular toxins are manufactured by injecting the toxin into an animal in small doses and extracting the resulting antibodies from the host animals' blood. This results in an antivenom that can be used to counteract venom produced by certain species of snakes, spiders, and other venomous animals. Some animal venoms, especially those produced by arthropods (such as certain spiders, scorpions, and bees) are only potentially lethal when they provoke allergic reactions and induce anaphylactic shock; as such, there is no "antidote" for these venoms; however anaphylactic shock can be treated (e.g. with epinephrine).

Some other toxins have no known antidote. For example, the poison batrachotoxin – a highly poisonous steroidal alkaloid derived from various poison dart frogs, certain beetles, and birds – has no antidote, and as a result, is often fatal if it enters the human body in sufficient quantities.

Mechanical approaches

Ingested poisons are frequently treated by the oral administration of activated charcoal, which adsorbs the poison and flushes it from the digestive tract, thereby removing a large part of the toxin. Poisons which are injected into the body (such as those from bites or stings from venomous animals) are usually treated by the use of a constriction band which limits the flow of lymph and/or blood to the area, thus slowing the circulation of the poison around the body. This should not be confused with the use of a tourniquet which cuts off blood flow completely – often leading to the loss of the limb.

Techniques to identify antidotes

In early 2019, a group of researchers in Australia published the finding of a new box jellyfish venom antidote using CRISPR. The technology had been used to functionally inactivate genes in human cell lines and identify the peripheral membrane protein ATP2B1, a calcium transporting ATPase, as one host factor required for box jellyfish venom cytotoxicity.

List of antidotes

AgentIndication
Activated charcoal with sorbitolUsed for many oral toxins
Theophylline or CaffeineAdenosine receptor agonist poisoning
Antimuscarinic drugs (e.g. Atropine)Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, nerve agents, some poison mushrooms
Beta blockerTheophylline
title=Calcium channel blocker poisoningwebsite=UpToDateurl=https://www.uptodate.com/contents/calcium-channel-blocker-poisoningaccess-date=2019-07-09}}black widow spider]] bites
Calcium gluconateCalcium channel blocker toxicity, hydrofluoric acid burns
Chelators such as EDTA, dimercaprol (BAL), penicillamine, and 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA, succimer)Heavy metal poisoning
Cyanide antidotes (hydroxocobalamin, amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, or thiosulfate)Cyanide poisoning
CyproheptadineSerotonin syndrome
Deferoxamine mesylateIron poisoning
Digoxin Immune Fab antibody (Digibind and Digifab)Digoxin poisoning, Oleander ingestion
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride and benztropine mesylateExtrapyramidal reactions associated with antipsychotics
100% Ethanol or fomepizoleEthylene glycol poisoning and methanol poisoning
FlumazenilBenzodiazepine overdose
100% oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)Carbon monoxide poisoning and cyanide poisoning
IdarucizumabReversal of dabigatran etexilate, an anticoagulant
Insulin + GlucagonBeta blocker poisoning and calcium channel blocker poisoning
LeucovorinMethotrexate, trimethoprim and pyrimethamine overdose
IntralipidLocal Anesthetic toxicity
Methylene blueTreatment of conditions that cause methemoglobinemia
Naloxone hydrochlorideOpioid overdose
N-acetylcysteineParacetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning
OctreotideOral hypoglycemic agents
Pralidoxime chloride (2-PAM)When given with Atropine: Organophosphate insecticides, nerve agents, some poison mushrooms
Protamine sulfateHeparin poisoning
Prussian blueThallium poisoning
Physostigmine sulfateAnticholinergic poisoning
PyridoxineIsoniazid poisoning, ethylene glycol, accidental hydrazine exposure (E.G from Gyromitra mushrooms)
Phytomenadione (vitamin K) and fresh frozen plasmaWarfarin overdose and some (but not all) rodenticides
Sodium bicarbonateAspirin, TCAs with a wide QRS
I.V SilibininAmatoxin ingestion
Succimer, chemical name Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)Lead poisoning

References

References

  1. {{DorlandsDict. one/000006009. antidote.
  2. "atterlothe".
  3. Christos S, Naples R. (2016). "Anticoagulation Reversal and Treatment Strategies in Major Bleeding: Update 2016". West J Emerg Med.
  4. (October 1991). "Treatment of snakebite poisoning". American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy.
  5. The-Crispr. (2019-05-13). "Antidote to deadly jellyfish identified using CRISPR".
  6. (2019-04-30). "Molecular dissection of box jellyfish venom cytotoxicity highlights an effective venom antidote". Nature Communications.
  7. "Calcium channel blocker poisoning".
  8. "Naturally Occurring Cardiac Glycoside Poisoning · California Poison Control System (CPCS)".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Antidote — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report