Which antidote is used for opiate and heroin overdose?

Which antidote is used for opiate and heroin overdose?

• A. Diphenhydramine
• B. Naloxone
• C. Sodium bicarbonate
• D. Flumazenil

Answer: (B)

Opioid overdose causes life-threatening respiratory depression, so the antidote must block the opioid effects at the receptors. Naloxone works as a competitive antagonist at mu-opioid receptors, displacing heroin and other opioids and rapidly reversing respiratory depression and sedation. It acts quickly when given by IV (and also intramuscular or intranasal), but its duration can be shorter than the opioid’s, so patients may need repeated doses or an infusion to prevent re-narcotization while the opioid wears off. Other options don’t reverse opioid effects: diphenhydramine is just an antihistamine with sedative effects, sodium bicarbonate isn’t an opioid reversal and is used for other issues, and flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines, not opioids and can cause problems in mixed overdoses.

Opioid overdose causes life-threatening respiratory depression, so the antidote must block the opioid effects at the receptors. Naloxone works as a competitive antagonist at mu-opioid receptors, displacing heroin and other opioids and rapidly reversing respiratory depression and sedation. It acts quickly when given by IV (and also intramuscular or intranasal), but its duration can be shorter than the opioid’s, so patients may need repeated doses or an infusion to prevent re-narcotization while the opioid wears off. Other options don’t reverse opioid effects: diphenhydramine is just an antihistamine with sedative effects, sodium bicarbonate isn’t an opioid reversal and is used for other issues, and flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines, not opioids and can cause problems in mixed overdoses.