What is the antidote for a benzodiazepine overdose?

Flumazenil is the appropriate antidote for benzodiazepine overdose because it functions as a competitive antagonist at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA-A receptor. By displacing benzodiazepines from their binding sites, flumazenil can reverse the sedative effects of these drugs, thereby mitigating symptoms such as excessive sedation, respiratory depression, and altered mental status that can occur with an overdose.

In clinical settings, flumazenil is administered with caution, particularly if the overdose involves multiple substances, as it may precipitate seizures in individuals who are dependent on benzodiazepines or who have coexisting seizure disorders. Therefore, while flumazenil can be highly effective in treating benzodiazepine overdoses, healthcare providers must assess risks versus benefits before its use.

Other options, while useful in different contexts, do not specifically counteract benzodiazepine effects. For instance, naloxone primarily targets opioids and would not be effective in reversing the effects of benzodiazepines. Activated charcoal can be used as a preventive measure in overdoses by binding substances in the gastrointestinal tract but does not reverse the effects of benzodiazepines already absorbed into the system. Acetylcysteine