Important Antidotes Cheat Sheet
Antidotes exist for several important poisons (See Table ). Since the duration of action of some antidotes is shorter than that of the intoxicant, the antidotes may need to be given repeatedly.
Important Antidotes
| Antidote | Poison(s) |
|---|---|
| Acetylcysteine | Acetaminophen; best given within 8–10 h of overdose |
| Atropine | Cholinesterase inhibitors |
| Bicarbonate, sodium | Membrane-depressant cardiotoxic drugs (eg, quinidine, tricyclic antidepressants) |
| Calcium | Fluoride; calcium channel blockers |
| Deferoxamine | Iron salts |
| Digoxin antibodies | Digoxin and related cardiac glycoside |
| Esmolol | Caffeine, theophylline, sympathomimetics |
| Ethanol | Methanol, ethylene glycol |
| Flumazenil Fomepizole Glucagon Glucose Hydroxocobalamin Naloxone Oxygen Physostigmine Pralidoxime | Benzodiazepines, zolpidem Methanol, ethylene glycol Beta adrenoceptor blockers Hypoglycemics Cyanide Opioid analgesics Carbon monoxide Suggested” for muscarinic receptor blockers, NOT tricyclics Organophosphate cholinesterase inhibitors |
High-Yield Terms to Learn for Poisoning management
ABCDs: Mnemonic for the supportive initial treatment of all poisoned patients that stands for Airway, Breathing, Circulation, and Dextrose or Decontamination
Anion: gap The difference between the serum concentrations of the major cations (Na+/K+) and (HCO− 3 /CI− ); an increased anion gap indicates the presence of extra anions and is most commonly caused by metabolic acidosis.
Antidote: A substance that counteracts the effect of a poison
Osmolar gap: The difference between the measured serum osmolality and the osmolality that is calculated from serum concentrations of sodium, glucose, and BUN; an increased osmolar gap is associated with poisoning due to ethanol and other alcohols.