Management of poisoning: antidotes. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bradberry, Sally; Vale, Allister
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 44:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: antagonist -- antidote -- chelating agent; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Médecine factuelle -- Périodiques; Medicine; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 610
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mpmed.2015.11.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1357-3039

Abstract

Abstract: Antidotes exert their beneficial effects by a variety of mechanisms, including forming an inert complex with the poison, accelerating detoxification of the poison, reducing the rate of conversion of the poison to a more toxic compound, competing with the poison for essential receptor sites, blocking essential receptors through which the toxic effects are mediated, and bypassing the effect of the poison. There are specific antidotes for only a small number of poisons, and few antidotes are employed regularly in clinical practice. Those that are include acetylcysteine, naloxone and flumazenil.