Antidote
From Rx-wiki
Antidote, derived from the Greek antidoton where anti is a prefix that means against and doton means given. Therefore we can think of an antidote as being working against what has already been given. A more contemporary definition would be a remedy or other agent used to neutralize or counteract the effects of a poison or other deleterious agent.
There is a popular misconception that there is an antidote for every poison, whereas there are actually relatively few classes of toxins that have antidotes. 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 poison produced by certain species of snakes, spiders, and other venomous animals. A number of venoms lack a viable antivenom, and a bite or sting from an animal producing such a toxin may result in death. Some animal venoms, especially those produced by arthropods (e.g. certain spiders, scorpions, bees, etc.) are only potentially lethal when they provoke allergic reactions and induce anaphylactic shock; as such, there is no "antidote" for these venoms because it is not a form of poisoning and anaphylactic shock can be treated (e.g., by the use of epinephrine).
Some other toxins have no known antidote. For example, the poison aconitine, a highly poisonous alkaloid derived from various aconite species 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 circulation of the poison around the body. This should not be confused with use of a tourniquet which cuts off blood flow completely - often leading to the loss of the limb.
List of antidotes
In the table below some of the more common antidotes have been listed.
| Antidote | Poison(s) | Additional Comments |
| acetylcysteine | acetaminophen | Should be given within 8 hr of acetaminophen ingestion for maximum benefit; however effective even after 24 hours of ingestion. |
| atropine | cholinesterase inhibitors (organophosphates, carbamates) | IV: 0.03-0.05 mg/kg IV/IM/IO/ET q10-20min PRN to effect; then q1-4hr for at least 24 hours. IM: 2 mg for mild reaction, quickly repeat with up to another 4 mg for initial dose if more severe reaction. |
| deferoxamine | iron salts, aluminum | 100 mg of deferoxamine can bind to about 10 mg of iron & 4.1 mg of aluminum |
| digoxin FAB antibodies | digoxin and related cardiac glycosides | Each vial of Digibind (38 mg of Fab) or DigiFab (40 mg of Fab) binds 0.5 mg digoxin. |
| dimercaprol | arsenic, gold, lead, mercury | Dosing depends on which poison the patient has been overexposed to. |
| edetate calcium disodium | lead | For asymptomatic blood lead of 20-70 mcg/dL give 1 g/m2 IV or IM. |
| flumazenil | benzodiazepines | Give 0.2 mg IV inj over 15-30 sec. If no response: then 0.3 mg over 15-30 sec 1 min later, if no response then again 0.5 mg IV over 15-30 sec to max cumulative dose of 3 mg/hr |
| fomepizole | methanol & ethylene glycol | Load 15 mg/kg IV infusion over 30 min, THEN 10 mg/kg IV q12hr x 4 doses, THEN increase to 15 mg/kg q12hr. |
| glucagon | beta-blocker & calcium channel blocker toxicity | Give a loading dose of 50-150 mcg/kg IVP over 1 minute, THEN 1-5 mg/hr IV infusion. |
| hydroxycobalamin | ||
| leucovorin | ||
| mesna | ||
| naloxone | ||
| penicillamine | ||
| phentolamine | ||
| physostigmine | ||
| phytonadione | ||
| pralidoxime | ||
| protamine sulfate |
See also
References
- The Free Dictionary, antidotes, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/antidotes
- Wikipedia, Antidotes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidotes
- Medscape, acetylcysteine (Antidote), http://reference.medscape.com/drug/acetadote-n-acetylcysteine-antidote-acetylcysteine-antidote-343740
- Medscape, atropine (IV, IM), http://reference.medscape.com/drug/atropen-atropine-iv-im-343093#0
- Medscape, digoxin immune FAB (Antidote), http://reference.medscape.com/drug/digibind-digifab-digoxin-immune-fab-antidote-343725
- Medscape, edetate calcium disodium, http://reference.medscape.com/drug/calcium-disodium-versenate-edetate-calcium-disodium-343729
- Medscape, flumazenil, http://reference.medscape.com/drug/romazicon-flumazenil-343731
- Medscape, fomepizole, http://reference.medscape.com/drug/antizol-fomepizole-343713
- Medscape, glucagon, http://reference.medscape.com/drug/glucagen-glucagon-342712
