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: Toxicity Antidote Arsenic Dimercaprol Benzodiazepines Flumazenil Acetaminophen N-acetylcysteine Heparin Protamine Sulfate Warfarin Vitamin K or Fresh-frozen plasma Tissue Plasminogen Activator Aminocaproic acid Methotrexate Leucovarin (Folinic acid) Sodium Nitroprusside Sodium Thiosulfate β-blockers Glucagon Carbon Monoxide 100% Oxygen Opioid Naloxone, Naltrexone Methanol Ethanol Organophosphates Atropine, PAM Iron Desferoxamine Cyclophosphamide Mesna Lead D-penicillamine Common Antidotes of Poisoning 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. Side Effect Causative Drugs Pulmonary Fibrosis BleomycinAmiodaroneBusulfan Pseudomembranous Colitis ClindamycinAmpicillinAmoxicillin Tendonitis Fluoroquinolones Interstitial Nephritis NSAIDsMethicillin Cholestatic Jaundice Macrolides Coronary Vasospasm CocaineSumatriptan Gout Thiazides Disulfiram-like reactions ChlorpropamideMetronidazoleCefoxitinCefamandole Atropine-like reactions TCAs Cough ACE Inhibitors Aplastic Anemia CarbamazepineChloramphenicolGold compounds EPS Antipsychotics Fatal Hepatotoxicity HalothaneValproic acidThiazolidinedionesAcetaminophen Gray Baby Syndrome Chloramphenicol Gynecomastia CimetidineSpironolactoneAlcohol Hand Foot Syndrome 5-FU Hemolytic anemia w/ G6PD deficiency PrimaquineDapsoneSulfa drugsNitrofurantoinChloramphenicol Hot Flashes NiacinTamoxifen Postural Hypotension α-Blockers Myelosuppression Alkylating cancer drugs SLE-like reactions ProcainamideHydralazineMethyldopa Red Man Syndrome Vancomycin Optic Neuritis Ethambutol Ototoxicity AminoglycosidesLoop diuretics Pancreatitis Didanosine Adrenal Insufficiency Steroid-withdrawal Thrombocytopenia HeparinRifampin Rebound Hypertension Clonidine-withdrawalα-Methyldopa Severe HTN w/ Tyramine MAO inhibitors Agranulocytosis Clozapine Cinchonism Quinidine Antidotes and Drugs Related To Famous Side Effects