What is the antidote for opioid poisoning?

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Explanation

Naloxone is a pure opioid antagonist, making it the specific antidote for opioid overdose.
It works by competing with and displacing opioids from their receptor sites in the brain, primarily the mu-receptors.
This action rapidly reverses the life-threatening respiratory depression caused by opioids.
The onset of action is very quick, typically within 2 minutes when administered intravenously.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Protamine sulphate is not used for opioid poisoning. Its function is to neutralize the anticoagulant effects of heparin.
Option B: Calcium gluconate is used to treat conditions related to low calcium levels or specific overdoses, but not opioids.
Option D: Amyl nitrite is a vasodilator and is not effective against opioid poisoning.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology: Antidotes for Common Poisons as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The primary nursing responsibility during an opioid overdose is to maintain a patent airway and support breathing, followed by the administration of naloxone as prescribed.
Nurses must continuously monitor the patient's respiratory rate, level of consciousness, and oxygen saturation after giving naloxone, as its effects may wear off before the opioid is fully metabolized, leading to re-sedation.
What if the patient is opioid-dependent? Administering naloxone can precipitate acute, severe withdrawal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, agitation). The nurse must be prepared to manage these symptoms while prioritizing respiratory support.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for a specific pharmacological antidote.
The key term is 'opioid poisoning'. This directs you to recall the specific class of drugs used to reverse opioid effects.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of antidotes.
Recall that Naloxone is a classic opioid antagonist.
Eliminate the other options by remembering their primary indications: Protamine sulphate for heparin, Calcium gluconate for calcium channel blocker toxicity, and Amyl nitrite for cyanide poisoning.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacology: Antidotes for Common Poisons
Stem keywords: antidote, opioid poisoning
Lead-in keywords: What is

Question ID

QPSvo5-T1x5_5vYcKZz4xF

Reference Book

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 170-172

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 946-948

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 10930-10932

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