activated charcoal – sometimes used to treat someone who's been poisoned; the charcoal binds to the poison and stops it being further absorbed into the blood. antidotes – these are substances that either prevent the poison from working or reverse its effects. sedatives – may be given if the person iRead more

Low levels of cyanides are found in nature and in products we commonly eat and use. Cyanides can be produced by certain bacteria, fungi and algae. Cyanides are also found in cigarette smoke, in vehicle exhaust, and in foods such as spinach, bamboo shoots, almonds, lima beans, fruit pits and tapioca.

An oral suspension of activated charcoal should be considered in poisonings when gastrointestinal decontamination of an ingested toxin is indicated. Activated charcoal is most efficacious when given within one hour of ingestion of the toxin.

Introduction. The term 'antidote' comes from the Greek word ἀντίδoτoν (antídoton), derived from ἀντί (antí, 'against') and δίδωμι (dídōmi, 'I give'). Tradition attributes its invention to Mithridates VI (135–63 BC), the king of Pontus, but this is a simplification [1].

There are dozens of antidotes used for hundreds of potential toxins, but only a few are used regularly. The most commonly used include activated charcoal, acetylcysteine, naloxone, sodium bicarbonate, atropine, flumazenil, therapeutic antibodies and various vitamins.