How do antidotes work in the treatment of poisoning?
Antidotes are substances that counteract the effects of toxins. They can work by a variety of mechanisms: some, like naloxone, directly antagonize the effects of the toxin at its receptor site; others, like chelating agents, bind to toxic metals to form stable complexes that can be excreted from the body. Some antidotes, such as hydroxocobalamin, provide substrates that allow normal metabolic processes to resume or displace the toxin from vital cellular components.
