When a large amount of toxic substances enters 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 consequences of intoxication.
Substances that help cope with poisoning
What is an antidote? This term refers to a drug that helps to neutralize the negative effects of toxic compounds. There is a synonym for this word - antidote. That is, a substance that has an effect that is directly opposite to the action of the toxin.
Getting into the human body, poison disrupts 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 entry of toxins into the body.
Some antidotes 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 varieties.
Types of Toxins and Antidotes
Speaking 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 tools has its own characteristics of work. Therefore, the choice of a variety of antidotes depends on the specific case.
Toxins are known to act on certain organs and systems. In accordance with this, they are divided into several varieties, for example:
- Blood toxins.
- Poisons that destroy the central nervous system.
- Muscle tissue toxins.
- Poisons that destroy blood vessels.
- Kidney toxins.
- Poisons that destroy the heart muscle.
Antidotes for poisoning are natural and medicinal. Antidotes that include natural ingredients are called universal. That is, they can be used for poisoning with any substance. As for pharmaceuticals, they are used with extreme caution. It is advisable not to use such drugs without the permission of a doctor. As for medicinal antidotes, the classification of these agents includes the following:
- Local antidotes (absorb toxic substances).
- Neutralizing antidotes (enter into a chemical reaction with poison, suppressing it).
- Means that modify toxins (turn them into safe substances).
- Physiological antidotes (remove all harmful compounds from the body, normalize its work).
- Immunological antidotes (vaccines, injections that stop the action of toxins).
Varieties of universal antidotes
Speaking about what is an antidote, it must be emphasized that not only chemicals, but also ordinary food products, plant extracts and vitamin supplements can be used as this remedy. The following can be listed as universal antidotes:
- Glucose.
- Honey.
- Ascorbic acid.
- Milk.
- Some vitamins of group B.
- Dairy products (kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt and so on).
Despite the fact that these funds can be used for any type of poisoning, they are only auxiliary methods of care for the patient. In some cases, a person needs an urgent intake of an antidote drug. For example, if a chemical poisoning has occurred . One such hazardous compound is potassium cyanide. It is described in the next section.
Potassium cyanide: effect on humans. Help with intoxication
Potassium cyanide is one of the most dangerous toxins. He was a popular tool for criminals in the early twentieth century, when it could be purchased at any pharmacy. This substance was sold in powder form.
Potassium cyanide is used for processing jewelry, in photography (as a fixative) and in the manufacture of paints. It is part of the fruit and berry seed kernels. If potassium cyanide enters the gastrointestinal tract, skin, or respiratory tract, symptoms of intoxication develop. Their intensity depends on the characteristics of a particular organism and the amount of poison that entered it. Potassium cyanide poisoning, the effect of this toxin on a person provokes the following symptoms:
- Burning sensation in throat.
- Bitter taste in the mouth.
- Decreased sensitivity of the muscles of the pharynx.
- Profuse salivation.
- Vomiting
- Dizziness.
- Feeling of lack of air.
As the patient worsens, he develops respiratory disorders and severe weakness. The pupils dilate. Convulsive seizures, redness of the eyes and skin, fainting are possible.
The patient needs emergency medical care, since death as a result of such intoxication can occur in forty minutes. Before introducing an antidote, you need to remove the poison from the body. For this, the patient is washed with a stomach. Then give warm sweet tea to drink. As antidotes, sodium compounds and glucose are used. These substances are administered intravenously. If potassium cyanide gets on the surface of the skin, it must be thoroughly washed 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 as a result of an overdose.
This phenomenon is characteristic of people who are addicted to chemicals.
In case of an overdose, it is extremely important to help the patient in time, since in the absence of the necessary treatment he can quickly die. Drug intoxication is characterized by the following manifestations:
- Convulsive seizures.
- Weakness.
- Disorders of consciousness.
- Reducing the size of the pupils.
- Breathing problems.
- Impairment of motor function.
- Unstable emotional background.
- Bluish skin tone.
- Lack of an adequate assessment of their condition.
Specialists use various antidotes for overdose. The choice of drug depends on which drug caused intoxication. In case of an overdose, the most commonly used drugs are naloxop and galantamine.
Intoxication of unknown origin
Sometimes the patient has signs of poisoning, however, it is not possible to find out which substance affects the human body. In such situations, it is necessary to apply universal antidotes. These include:
- Unitiol (used for intoxication with heavy metals and drugs).
- Vitamin B6 (used in acute conditions to improve overall well-being).
- Lipoic acid (for poisoning with a pale toadstool).
- Nalofrin (with morphine intoxication).
However, these funds, despite their versatility, can only be used by a doctor. Therefore, in case of any poisoning, it is better to wait for an ambulance. Until she arrives, everything possible must be done to improve the condition of the patient. To do this, you can give him ascorbic acid, natural honey, coffee, some milk or egg white.
General home care methods
It must 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 the stomach. To provoke vomiting, press on the root of the tongue, after drinking a large amount of warm water. Sometimes special tools are used. However, vomit (antimony, vitriol) should be used with extreme caution. In case of intoxication with acid or alkali, the patient should not rinse the stomach. If the patient does not have diarrhea during poisoning, he needs to clean his intestines with an enema or laxative.
And only after such measures to remove poison from the body can a universal antidote be used.
Features of general antidotes
It must be remembered that it is necessary to choose a universal antidote taking into account what the person was poisoned with. For example, in case of intoxication with gas or toxic fumes, honey should be used. Also, with such poisoning, it is important to ensure access to fresh air (open the window, move the victim to the street). Tea, coffee and drinks containing a large amount of sugar help with intoxication with poisonous mushrooms, poor-quality food, and medicines. They help to cope with disorders of the stomach and intestines. For the same purposes, milk, kefir or yogurt is used.
To neutralize the poison of any origin, a person needs to drink as much water as possible.
On the recommendation of a doctor, decoctions of various herbs are also used.
Folk remedies
People from ancient times are familiar with concepts such as poisons and antidotes. In folk medicine, many natural remedies are used to relieve symptoms of poisoning. These include:
- Peppermint.
- St. John's wort
- Repeshka.
- Chamomile.
- Forest blackberry.
- Baking soda.
- Common salt.
- Leaves of plantain.
However, despite the effectiveness of these funds, they can not be used without a doctor's prescription. Their use as antidote drugs can only worsen the condition of the patient. Therefore, it is better to use such drugs only as adjuvant therapy.