What is an antidote? Poisons and antidotes

When a large number of toxic substances enter the human body, poisoning occurs. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon, which is associated with a serious negative effect of poisons on various organs and systems. In medical practice, antidotes are often used to combat the symptoms and effects of intoxication.

Substances that help cope with poisoning

What is an antidote? This term means a drug that helps neutralize the negative effects of toxic compounds. There is a synonym for this word - antidote. That is, the substance that has the effect is directly opposite the action of the toxin. When a person gets into the body, the poison breaks the work of various organs. The task of the antidote is to act on the nerve endings in such a way as to block the processes associated with the intake of toxins into the body.

Some antivenins work in such a way that they react with a dangerous substance and modify it. As a result, the toxin becomes harmless.

Features of the action of antidotes depend on their species.

Types of Toxins and Antidotes

When talking about what an antidote is and how it works, it should be noted that there are several varieties of such drugs. Each group of these means has its own peculiarities of work. Therefore, the choice of the antivenom variety depends on the specific case.

Toxins are known to affect certain organs and systems. In accordance with this, they are divided into several varieties, for example:

1. Toxins that affect blood.
2. Poisons destroying the central nervous system.
3. Toxins affecting the muscle tissue.
4. Poisons destroying the blood vessels.
5. Toxins affecting the kidneys.
6. Poisons destroying the heart muscle.

Antidotes for poisoning are natural and medicinal. Antidotes, which include natural ingredients, are called universal. That is, they can be used for poisoning by any substances. With regard to pharmaceuticals, they are used with extreme caution. It is advisable not to use such drugs without the permission of a doctor. With regard to medicinal antidotes, the classification of these agents includes the following:

1. Local action antidotes( absorb toxic substances).
2. Neutralizing antidotes( reacting with poison by chemical reaction, suppressing it).
3. Means that modify toxins( convert them to safe substances).
4. Physiological antidotes( remove from the body all harmful compounds, normalize its work).
5. Immunological antidotes( vaccines, injections, stopping the action of toxins).

Versions of universal antidotes

When talking about what an antidote is, it should be emphasized that not only chemicals, but also ordinary food products, plant extracts and vitamin supplements can be used as this agent. As universal antidotes, the following can be listed:

1. Glucose.
2. Honey
3. Ascorbic acid.
4. Milk.
5. Some vitamins of group B.
6. Sour-milk products( kefir, fermented baked milk, yoghurt and so on).

Although these drugs can be used for any type of poisoning, they are only auxiliary methods of helping the patient. In some cases, a person needs an urgent intake of an antidote drug. For example, if there has been poisoning with chemicals. One such dangerous compound is potassium cyanide. It is described in the next section.

Cyanide potassium: action per person. Help with intoxication

Potassium cyanide is one of the most dangerous toxins. It was a popular tool of criminals in the early twentieth century, when it could be purchased at any pharmacy. This substance was sold in the form of a powder.

Potassium cyanide is used for the processing of jewelry, in photography( as a fixer) and in the manufacture of paints. It is a part of the nuclei of fruit and berry seeds. If potassium cyanide enters the gastrointestinal tract, on the skin or in the respiratory tract, symptoms of intoxication develop. Their intensity depends on the characteristics of a particular organism and the amount of poison that it received. Poisoning with cyanide, the effect on humans of this toxin provokes the following symptoms:

1. Burning sensation in the throat.
2. Bitter taste in the mouth.
3. Reduces the sensitivity of the throat muscles.
4. Abundant salivation.
5. Vomiting.
6. Dizziness.
7. Feeling of air shortage.

As the patient deteriorates, he develops breathing disorders, a sharp weakness. Pupils dilate. Possible seizures, redness of the eyes and skin, fainting.

The patient needs urgent medical help, since death as a result of such intoxication can occur in forty minutes. Before you enter the antidote, you need to remove the poison from the body. For this, the patient is washed with a stomach. Then give a warm sweet tea. As antidotes use sodium compounds, glucose. These substances are administered intravenously. If you get potassium cyanide on the surface of the skin, you should rinse it thoroughly with water.

Drug poisoning

Continuing to talk about what an antidote is, it must be said that this remedy is often used to help with intoxication due to an overdose. This phenomenon is typical for people who are dependent on chemicals.

In case of an overdose, it is extremely important to help the patient in time, as in the absence of the necessary treatment, he can quickly die. Intoxication with narcotic substances is characterized by the following manifestations:

1. Convulsive seizures.
2. Weakness.
3. Consciousness Disorders.
4. Reducing the size of the pupils.
5. Respiratory depression.
6. Impairment of motor functions.
7. Unstable emotional background.
8. Bluish shade of the skin.
9. Lack of an adequate assessment of your condition.

Specialists use various antidotes for overdose. The choice of the drug depends on which drug has caused intoxication. In case of an overdose, the most commonly used drugs are naloxope and galantamine.

Intoxication of unknown origin

Sometimes the patient has signs of poisoning, but it is not possible to find out what substance has an effect on the human body. In such situations it is necessary to use universal antidotes. These include:

1. Unitiol( used for intoxication with heavy metals and drugs).
2. Vitamin B6( used in acute conditions to improve overall health).
3. Acid lipoic( with poisoning pale toadstool).
4. Nalofrin( with morphine intoxication).

However, these funds, in spite of their universality, can only be used by a doctor. Therefore, for any poisoning it is better to wait for an ambulance. While she has not arrived, it is necessary to do everything possible to improve the patient's condition. To do this, you can give him ascorbic acid, natural honey, coffee, a little milk or egg white.

General methods of care at home

It should be remembered that all measures to improve the patient's condition will be ineffective if the poison is in the gastrointestinal tract. In this situation, you must first cleanse the body of harmful substances. To do this, the victim is washed with a stomach. To provoke a vomiting, press down on a root of tongue, preliminary having drunk a plenty of warm water. Sometimes special means are used. However, vomit( antimony, copper sulfate) should be used with extreme caution. In case of intoxication with acid or alkali, the stomach should not be washed with the patient. If the poisoned person has no diarrhea, he needs to cleanse the intestines with an enema or laxative.

And only after such measures to remove the poison from the body can use a universal antidote.

Features of general antidotes

It should be remembered that the choice of a universal antidote is necessary in view of what a person has poisoned. For example, in case of intoxication with gas or poisonous vapors, honey should be used. Also, with such poisoning, it is important to ensure access to fresh air( open the ventilator, take the victim to the street).Tea, coffee and drinks containing a large amount of sugar help with intoxication with poisonous mushrooms, poor-quality food, drugs. They help to cope with abnormalities of the stomach and intestines. Milk, kefir or yogurt is used for the same purposes.

To neutralize the poison of any origin, a person should drink as much water as possible. On the recommendation of the doctor, decoctions of various herbs are also used.

Folk remedies

People from ancient times are familiar with such concepts as poisons and antidotes. In folk medicine, many natural remedies are used to relieve symptoms of poisoning. These include:

1. Peppermint.
2. St. John's Wort.
3. Creeper.
4. Chamomile.
5. Forest blackberry.
6. Baking soda.
7. Salt is a common salt.
8. Leaves of plantain.

However, despite the effectiveness of these funds, they can not be used without prescribing a doctor. Their use as antidote drugs can only worsen a patient's condition. Therefore, it is better to use such drugs only as an auxiliary therapy.