universal antidote

universal antidote

Etymology: L, universus, whole world; Gk, anti, against, dotos, something given

a mixture of 50% activated charcoal, 25% magnesium oxide, and 25% tannic acid, formerly thought to be useful as an antidote for most types of acid, heavy metal, alkaloid, and glycoside poisons. It is now believed that the mixture is no more effective than activated charcoal given with water.

---

antidote

an agent that counteracts a poison.

---

chemical antidote

one that neutralizes the poison by changing its chemical nature.

mechanical antidote

one that prevents absorption of the poison.

physiological antidote

one that counteracts the effects of the poison by producing opposing effects.

universal antidote

a mixture formerly recommended as an antidote when the exact poison is not known. There is, in fact, no known universal antidote. Activated charcoal is now being used for many poisons.