What antidote is used in toxicities involving heavy metals such as Mercury and Arsenic?

The antidote used in toxicities involving heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic is Dimercaprol, also known as British Anti-Lewisite (BAL). Dimercaprol is a chelating agent that works by binding to heavy metals in the bloodstream. This binding forms stable complexes that can be excreted by the kidneys, effectively removing the metals from the body.

Dimercaprol is especially effective for the treatment of poisoning by certain heavy metals, particularly arsenic and mercury, because of its ability to form soluble complexes with these toxic elements. In contrast, other options like activated charcoal are more useful for treating overdoses of drugs and some toxins, but they do not effectively bind to heavy metals. DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid) is also a chelating agent used for heavy metal poisoning, but it is less effective than Dimercaprol in acute cases of mercury and arsenic toxicity. Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist used specifically for reversing benzodiazepine overdoses and is not relevant to heavy metal poisoning.

Understanding the specific action and application of Dimercaprol is crucial for effective treatment in cases of heavy metal toxicity.