Antidote

An antidote is a drug, chelating substance, or a chemical that counteracts (neutralizes) the effects of another drug or a poison.

There are dozens of different antidotes; however, some may only counteract one particular drug, whereas others (such as charcoal) may help reduce the toxicity of numerous drugs. Most antidotes are not 100% effective, and fatalities may still occur even when an antidote has been given. Some examples of antidotes include:

Drug Related Side Effects

Side effects, also known as adverse events, are unwanted or unexpected events or reactions to a drug. Side effects can vary from minor problems like a runny nose to life-threatening events, such as an increased risk of a heart attack.

Several things can affect who does and does not have a side effect when taking a drug – age, gender, allergies, how the body absorbs the drug, other drugs, vitamins and dietary supplements that you may be taking. Common side effects include upset stomach, dry mouth, and drowsiness.

A side effect is considered serious if the result is: death; life-threatening; hospitalization; disability or permanent damage; or exposure prior to conception or during pregnancy caused birth defect.

Side effects can happen when you

• start taking a new drug, dietary supplement, or vitamin/mineral
• stop taking a drug that you’ve been on for a while, or
• when you increase or decrease the amount of a drug that you take.