A substance used to counteract the effect of poison is:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Explanation

An antidote is a substance specifically designed to counteract a form of poisoning.
It works through various mechanisms, such as preventing the poison from being absorbed, binding and neutralizing the poison, or competing with the poison at its receptor site.
The term directly matches the definition asked for in the question stem.
Well-known examples include naloxone for opioid overdose and N-acetylcysteine for paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning.

Option A: An antiseptic is a substance applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction. It does not counteract ingested or systemic poisons.
Option C: An antibiotic is a medication that targets and destroys or inhibits the growth of bacteria. It has no role in counteracting poisons.
Option D: An antifungal is a medication used to treat fungal infections. It does not have any effect on chemical poisons or drug overdoses.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Prioritize focused assessment, early escalation, and real-time monitoring when managing Pharmacology: Toxicology and Antidotes in acute care settings.
Rapid identification of the poison and timely administration of the correct antidote are critical nursing responsibilities in an emergency setting, as they can be life-saving.
Nurses must be familiar with common antidotes, their dosages, routes of administration, and potential adverse effects, as listed in hospital protocols.
What if? If the ingested substance was a corrosive acid or alkali, an antidote would not be the primary treatment. Instead, the focus would be on supportive care and urgent endoscopic evaluation, as specific antidotes for corrosives are generally not available and inducing vomiting is contraindicated.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of basic pharmacological definitions.
First, identify the key concepts in the question: 'substance,' 'counteract,' and 'poison.'
The question is asking for the specific term for a remedy against poison.
Systematically evaluate each option based on its medical definition.
An antiseptic is for preventing infection on skin.
An antibiotic is for treating bacterial infections.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q2s7aJQwg_MLJVKU7syZYt

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 157-159

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 751-753

E6 Pharmacology Katzung 16e p. 1617-1619

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.