What is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?

Flumazenil is specifically designed to counteract the effects of benzodiazepines, making it the appropriate antidote for a benzodiazepine overdose. It works as a competitive antagonist at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA-A receptor, which can reverse the sedation and respiratory depression caused by benzodiazepines.

In clinical practice, flumazenil can be administered to patients who present with a benzodiazepine overdose to effectively restore normal levels of consciousness and respiratory function, provided that the patient does not have a history of seizures or is not on other drugs that may induce seizures, as flumazenil can precipitate seizures in sensitive individuals.

Other options do not serve the same purpose; for instance, activated charcoal may help limit absorption if given soon after ingestion of the benzodiazepine, but it does not reverse the effects of the drug. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with sedative properties and does not counteract the effects of benzodiazepines. Rivastigmine, a drug used in the management of Alzheimer's disease, works differently by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and also does not address benzodiazepine overdose. Thus, flumazenil is the targeted