A 30-year-old man is brought after overdosing on diazepam. He is drowsy but breathing adequately. The specific antidote that can reverse sedation is flumazenil, which acts as a competitive antagonist at which site?

• A Opioid mu receptor
• B GABA-B receptor
• C NMDA receptor
• D GABA-A receptor benzodiazepine site ✓

Explanation

Flumazenil is a competitive antagonist at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA-D receptor complex. It rapidly reverses sedation and respiratory depression. It is used cautiously in mixed overdoses because it can precipitate seizures in patients dependent on benzodiazepines or who have co-ingested tricyclics.

Reference: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.