An antidote is a substance that can counteract the effects of a poison. It is a therapeutic agent that is meant to counteract the toxic actions of a drug or toxin. Antidotes are used to treat poisoning caused by various substances, including drugs, chemicals, and venomous animals. The term "antidote" comes from the Greek term "pharmakon antidoton," which means "(medicine) given as a remedy".
Some key points about antidotes include:
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Function: Antidotes are used to counteract the effects of poisons and toxins. They work by either neutralizing the poison or blocking its effects on the body.
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Types: Antidotes can be specific to a particular poison or toxin, or they can be broad-spectrum and work against multiple substances. Some antidotes are manufactured by injecting the toxin into an animal in small doses and extracting the resulting antibodies from the host animals blood.
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Limitations: Some toxins have no known antidote, and some animal venoms are only potentially lethal when they provoke allergic reactions and induce anaphylactic shock, for which there is no specific antidote.
In summary, an antidote is a substance that can counteract the effects of a poison or toxin. It is used to treat poisoning caused by various substances and works by neutralizing the poison or blocking its effects on the body.
