Drugs and their antidotes are common one-liners and direct questions in Pharmacology in NEET-PG, AIIMS and medical PG entrances.
They are also frequently asked in medical school vivas.
This article enlists the most commonly asked drugs and their antidotes for a rapid revision before exams.
DRUG | ANTIDOTE |
Acetaminophen;paracetamol | N-Acetylcysteine or methionoine |
Anticholinergics(eg, atropine) | Physostigmine |
Anticholinesterases (Organophosphates) | Pralidoxime (cholinesterase reactivator) and atropine (competitive antagonist at acetylcholine receptor) |
Benzodiazepines | Flumazenil |
Carbon monoxide | Oxygen |
Cyanide | Sodiun thiosulphate, sodium nitrite |
Digoxin | Fab antibody or D-penicillamine |
Heavy metals (Arsenic , mercury or gold) | Dimercaprol or D-penicillamine |
Heparin | Protamine sulphate |
Isoniazid | Pyridoxine |
Iron | Desferrioxamine(chelating agent) |
Lead | penicillamine or calcium sodium edenate |
Methanol | IV ethanol (competes with alcohol dehydrogenase) |
Opiates | Naloxene/Naltreoxone (competitive antagonisht at opiate receptor) |
Warfarin | Vitamin K |
If you think we forgot any drugs and antidotes, do let us know in the comments below.
Also, let us know which high yield medical topic or list you would like for us to publish next.
Happy studying, medico 🙂
– TEAM MEDICOMAESTRO