Common Drugs and Their Antidotes
An antidote is a substance that can counteract a form of poisoning. The term antidote is a
Greek word meaning “given against”. This post will help you familiarize yourself with the
common antidotes that are used in the hospital setting. The following are antidotes that should
be familiarized by the nurse to respond to this emergency situation quickly.
Table of Antidotes
Antidote Indication Mode of Action
Restores depleted glutathione
Acetaminophen/ Tylenol/
acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) stores and protects against renal
Paracetamol
and hepatic failure.
Non-specific poisons Absorption of drug in the gastric
except cyanide, iron, and intestinal tracts. Interrupts
Activated charcoal
lithium, caustics and the entero-hepatic cycle with
alcohol. multiple dose.
albuterol inhaler, insulin &
Potassium
glucose, NaHCO3, kayexalate
Neuromuscular blockade
anticholinesterase agents
(paralytics)
atropine sulfate or Competitive inhibition of
Anticholinesterase
pralidoxime muscarinic receptors.
Not known; partial protection
against acute hepatic failure;
Amanita phalloides (Death
Benzylpenicillin may displace amatoxin from
cap mushroom)
protein-binding sites allowing
increased renal excretion; may
also inhibit penetration of
, amatoxin to hepatocytes.
Rapidly complexes with fluoride
Calcium salts Fluoride ingestion
ion.
Deferoxamine acts by binding
free iron in the bloodstream and
deferoxamine Iron
enhancing its elimination in
the urine.
Binds molecules of digoxin,
digibind making them unavailable for
Digoxin
digoxine immune fab binding at their site of action on
cells in the body.
Chelation of lead ions and
dimercapol, edetate
Lead endogenous metals (e.g., zinc,
calcium, disodium,
manganese, iron, copper).
A potent antagonist to
Extrapyramidal symptoms
diphenhydramine (Benadryl) acetylcholine in muscarinic
(EPS)
receptors.
Reverses the effects of
benzodiazepines by competitive
flumazenil Benzodiazepines inhibition at the benzodiazepine
binding site on the
GABAA receptor.
A competitive inhibitor of the
enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase
found in the liver. This enzyme
fomepizole Ethylene glycol
plays a key role in the
metabolism of ethylene glycol
and methanol.
Beta blockers and calcium Stimulates the formation of
glucagon
channel blockers adenyl cyclase causing
intracellular increase in cycling
An antidote is a substance that can counteract a form of poisoning. The term antidote is a
Greek word meaning “given against”. This post will help you familiarize yourself with the
common antidotes that are used in the hospital setting. The following are antidotes that should
be familiarized by the nurse to respond to this emergency situation quickly.
Table of Antidotes
Antidote Indication Mode of Action
Restores depleted glutathione
Acetaminophen/ Tylenol/
acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) stores and protects against renal
Paracetamol
and hepatic failure.
Non-specific poisons Absorption of drug in the gastric
except cyanide, iron, and intestinal tracts. Interrupts
Activated charcoal
lithium, caustics and the entero-hepatic cycle with
alcohol. multiple dose.
albuterol inhaler, insulin &
Potassium
glucose, NaHCO3, kayexalate
Neuromuscular blockade
anticholinesterase agents
(paralytics)
atropine sulfate or Competitive inhibition of
Anticholinesterase
pralidoxime muscarinic receptors.
Not known; partial protection
against acute hepatic failure;
Amanita phalloides (Death
Benzylpenicillin may displace amatoxin from
cap mushroom)
protein-binding sites allowing
increased renal excretion; may
also inhibit penetration of
, amatoxin to hepatocytes.
Rapidly complexes with fluoride
Calcium salts Fluoride ingestion
ion.
Deferoxamine acts by binding
free iron in the bloodstream and
deferoxamine Iron
enhancing its elimination in
the urine.
Binds molecules of digoxin,
digibind making them unavailable for
Digoxin
digoxine immune fab binding at their site of action on
cells in the body.
Chelation of lead ions and
dimercapol, edetate
Lead endogenous metals (e.g., zinc,
calcium, disodium,
manganese, iron, copper).
A potent antagonist to
Extrapyramidal symptoms
diphenhydramine (Benadryl) acetylcholine in muscarinic
(EPS)
receptors.
Reverses the effects of
benzodiazepines by competitive
flumazenil Benzodiazepines inhibition at the benzodiazepine
binding site on the
GABAA receptor.
A competitive inhibitor of the
enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase
found in the liver. This enzyme
fomepizole Ethylene glycol
plays a key role in the
metabolism of ethylene glycol
and methanol.
Beta blockers and calcium Stimulates the formation of
glucagon
channel blockers adenyl cyclase causing
intracellular increase in cycling
