Which type of medication is typically used as an antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?

Flumazenil is the specific antidote used for benzodiazepine overdose due to its action as a competitive antagonist at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA-A receptor. This means that flumazenil can reverse the sedative effects of benzodiazepines by displacing them from their binding sites, thereby negating their effects on the central nervous system. The use of flumazenil can quickly restore normal consciousness and respiration in patients who have overdosed on benzodiazepines.

In contrast, activated charcoal is used to reduce the absorption of various medications in cases of overdose but is not an antidote; it is only supportive treatment. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, effective in reversing opioid overdose but not benzodiazepines, whereas atropine is an anticholinergic agent primarily used in treating bradycardia or certain types of poisoning, such as organophosphate poisoning. Therefore, flumazenil stands out as the only appropriate choice for directly counteracting the effects of a benzodiazepine overdose.