Your patient is a 27-year-old male who has possibly overdosed on heroin. He is unresponsive and bradypneic. Which of the following is appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A possible heroin overdose can cause respiratory depression and unresponsiveness due to the central nervous system (CNS) depression. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can reverse the CNS depression and respiratory depression caused by an opioid overdose, making it the most appropriate choice.  Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that can treat allergies and itching but does not reverse CNS depression, so it is not appropriate. Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist used for benzodiazepine overdose and does not reverse opioid overdose, so it is not appropriate. Thiamine is a vitamin that can treat thiamine deficiency caused by alcoholism but does not reverse the respiratory depression caused by opioid overdose, so it is not appropriate.

Your Patient Is a 27-Year-Old Male Who Has Possibly Overdosed