Which medication is given as an antidote for opioid overdose?

Naloxone is the medication used as an antidote for opioid overdose because it is an opioid antagonist. This means it binds to the same receptors in the brain that opioids attach to, but it does not activate them. Instead, naloxone effectively blocks the effects of opioids, reversing symptoms of overdose such as respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension. Its quick onset of action allows it to be administered in emergency situations to rapidly restore normal breathing patterns and consciousness in individuals who have overdosed on opioids.

In addition, naloxone can be given intranasally or intramuscularly, making it accessible and easy to administer by first responders, healthcare professionals, and even trained laypersons. Other options provided do not serve the same purpose: flumazenil is an antidote for benzodiazepine overdose, acetylcysteine is used for acetaminophen overdose, and atropine is used to treat bradycardia or as an antidote for certain types of poisoning, but not for opioids specifically. This makes naloxone the clear choice for addressing opioid overdoses.