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1 vote
Following the IV administration of a

benzodiazepine, a patient becomes apneic and
unresponsive. Which of the following drugs should
be administered immediately?
A. Naloxone.
B. Propranolol.
C. Amphetamine.
D. Flumazenil.
E. Atropine.

User Ashanta
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1 Answer

7 votes

Final answer:

Flumazenil should be administered immediately to reverse the effects of benzodiazepine-induced apnea and unresponsiveness by acting as a benzodiazepine antagonist at GABA-A receptors.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the event that a patient becomes apneic and unresponsive following the intravenous (IV) administration of a benzodiazepine, the drug that should be administered immediately is flumazenil. Flumazenil is a specific benzodiazepine antagonist and it is used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepines, including the life-threatening effects such as severe sedation, respiratory depression, and unconsciousness. It acts by competing with benzodiazepines for their binding sites on the GABA-A (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A) receptor complex, thereby reversing their central nervous system depressant effects.

User Psylosss
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