Question:
A patient is brought to the emergency department with pin-point pupils, depressed respiration, and a reduced level of consciousness following suspected opioid (e.g., morphine/heroin) overdose. Which drug is the specific antidote?
A patient is brought to the emergency department with pin-point pupils, depressed respiration, and a reduced level of consciousness following suspected opioid (e.g., morphine/heroin) overdose. Which drug is the specific antidote?
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Reverses the opioid receptor - restores breathing in heroin/morphine overdose.
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
- Naloxone
- Flumazenil
- Atropine
- N-acetylcysteine
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The clinical triad of pin-point (miotic) pupils, respiratory depression, and CNS depression is the classic opioid toxidrome.
Step 2: The specific antidote is naloxone, a pure, competitive opioid (mu-receptor) antagonist. Given IV/IM/intranasal, it rapidly reverses respiratory depression and sedation.
Step 3: Because naloxone has a shorter half-life than many opioids, repeated doses or an infusion may be needed to prevent re-narcotisation; it can precipitate acute withdrawal in dependent patients.
Step 4: Why the others are wrong - flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines (GABA-A); atropine is the antidote for organophosphate/cholinergic (muscarinic) poisoning and anticholinesterase effects; N-acetylcysteine is the antidote for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose.
Key fact: Opioid overdose antidote = naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist).
Step 2: The specific antidote is naloxone, a pure, competitive opioid (mu-receptor) antagonist. Given IV/IM/intranasal, it rapidly reverses respiratory depression and sedation.
Step 3: Because naloxone has a shorter half-life than many opioids, repeated doses or an infusion may be needed to prevent re-narcotisation; it can precipitate acute withdrawal in dependent patients.
Step 4: Why the others are wrong - flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines (GABA-A); atropine is the antidote for organophosphate/cholinergic (muscarinic) poisoning and anticholinesterase effects; N-acetylcysteine is the antidote for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose.
Key fact: Opioid overdose antidote = naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist).
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