Rosh Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2025 - Free Emergency Medicine Practice Questions and Study Guide

Naloxone is the primary treatment for a known opioid overdose due to its ability to rapidly reverse the effects of opioids. It is an opioid antagonist, which means it binds to the same receptors in the brain that opioids do, effectively displacing them and reversing their effects. This leads to the restoration of normal respiratory function and consciousness in individuals who are experiencing respiratory depression or sedation as a result of opioid toxicity.

In cases of overdose, timely administration of naloxone can be lifesaving, as it acts quickly—often within minutes. This makes it the first-line treatment option in emergency situations involving opioid overdose.

The other treatments mentioned are not suitable for this particular emergency. Activated charcoal, for example, is used to reduce the absorption of certain drugs after ingestion but is not effective once an opioid overdose is underway. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist, is not routinely used for opioid overdose due to the risk of seizures and complications, especially if the patient has mixed drug overdoses. Atropine is used to treat bradycardia and some types of poisoning but does not have a role in opioid overdose management. Thus, naloxone remains the mainstay treatment for reversing opioid toxicity.