A 30-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department 1

A 30-year-old man is brought to the emergency department 1 hour after his neighbor found him collapsed on his front porch in a pool of vomitus. On arrival, he is oriented only to self. His pulse is 103/min and respirations are 30/min. Neurologic examination shows muscle spasms in the arms and jaw. Laboratory results are as follows: Acute poisoning is suspected and the patient is given an appropriate antidote.  Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of action of the antidote?

A) Binds to the poison in the blood to form an inert complex
B) Competitively binds to cell surface receptors
C) Decreases the conversion rate of poison into a toxic metabolite
D) Prevents the gastrointestinal absorption of poison into the body
E) Promotes rapid enzyme-dependent detoxification in the liver