Different examples of antidotes are listed below:
Poison: antidote | Mechanism |
arsenic or gold: dimercaprol lead: penicillamine or calcium edatate iron: desferioxamine thalium: prussian blue cholinesterase inhibitors: pralidoxime
| form an inert complex with the poison |
cyanide: thiosulphate paracetamol: methionine or N-acetylcystine
| increasing rate of metabolism to a less toxic compound |
methanol: ethanol | reduce the rate of metabolism |
carbon monoxide: oxygen opiates: naloxone | competing for receptor sites |
anticholinesterases: atropine | blocking essential receptors |
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