Antidotes
Antidotes are medicinal products that neutralize, inactivate, adsorb, counteract or by whichever way decrease toxic effects of poisons. Regarding their action they are divided into physical, chemical or physiologic antidotes. The number of clinically used antidotes is relatively small compared with the number of potential poisons. The majority of antidotes, except very few, are not used before establishing vital functions, urgent symptomatic or supportive therapy and poison identification. Antidote effectiveness is indirectly dependent on poison decontamination procedures from skin and/or gastrointestinal tract. Elimination of antidotes should be taken into the account influencing their dosing. The use of antidotes should always be weighted against their potential adverse reactions.