Which drug is commonly used in emergency care for a patient who has ingested poison?

Activated charcoal is commonly used in emergency care for patients who have ingested poison because it functions as an effective adsorbent. Its mechanism involves binding to the toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing their absorption into the bloodstream. This can significantly reduce the amount of poison that enters the body and can help mitigate the severity of the poisoning.

In cases of poisoning, timely administration of activated charcoal can be critical and is often used when the patient is alert and can protect their airway. It is typically administered within a specific time frame after ingestion for optimal effectiveness.

The other options, while they have their uses in emergency medicine, do not serve the same purpose in cases of poison ingestion. Atropine is primarily used to manage certain types of bradycardia and organophosphate poisonings but is not a general antidote for toxic ingestion. Oral glucose is used for treating hypoglycemia, and epinephrine is used for severe allergic reactions and cardiac arrest, but these drugs are not appropriate for poisoning cases.