Which medication is used for treating opiate and heroin overdoses?

Naloxone is the medication specifically designed to counteract the effects of opioid and heroin overdoses. It is an opioid antagonist that works by binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids occupy, effectively reversing the effects such as respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension associated with an overdose.

Naloxone is critical in emergency situations where a person is suspected of having an opioid overdose. It can be administered intranasally or via injection, providing a rapid reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression, which is the primary cause of death in such overdoses.

In the context of emergency medicine, Naloxone has become a standard component of overdose management protocols and is often carried by first responders and emergency medical technicians due to its effectiveness and safety profile. It can save lives when administered promptly in cases of suspected opioid overdose.

Other medications listed play very different roles in medicine. For instance, Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist and is not typically used for opioid overdoses. Sodium Bicarbonate is used for metabolic acidosis and various other conditions but does not counteract the effects of opioids. Physostigmine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor primarily used in the context of anticholinergic toxicity, again not