Core48: Antidote - definition and examples

🧯 High-yield / 要点：An antidote is a substance that counteracts a drug or toxin. Some antidotes directly bind toxins; others reverse pharmacologic effects.

Definition / 定義

• Antidote = substance that counteracts the effect of a drug or toxic substance.
• The term derives from Greek pharmakon antidoton = “given as medicine.”
• Some antidotes, such as antivenins, are made by:
  • Injecting small toxin doses into animals.
  • Collecting antibodies from host blood.
  • Using these antibodies against venoms.

Antidotes for toxic substances / 毒物に対する解毒薬

Toxic substance	Antidote	Key point
Organophosphates	Pralidoxime	Reactivates acetylcholinesterase if given early
Amanita phalloides	Benzylpenicillin	Used in mushroom poisoning context
Cyanide	Sodium thiosulfate	Enhances conversion to less toxic thiocyanate

Antidotes for medicines / 薬物中毒に対する解毒薬

Medication/toxicity	Antidote	Key point
Digoxin	Digoxin immune Fab	Binds digoxin
Paracetamol / acetaminophen	N-acetylcysteine	Restores glutathione; protects against NAPQI toxicity
Opioids	Naloxone	Opioid receptor antagonist; reverses respiratory depression

Remember / 覚え方

• Opioid → naloxone
• Paracetamol → N-acetylcysteine
• Digoxin → immune Fab
• Organophosphate → pralidoxime