Antidotes are specific types of medication used to counteract the effects of a poison. They work by a variety of mechanisms, such as binding to the toxin, enhancing its elimination, or reversing its toxic effects. For example, acetylcysteine is used to treat acetaminophen toxicity by replenishing glutathione levels. Similarly, naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression.
