Which medication is an antidote to narcotics?

• A. Narcan
• B. Epinephrine
• C. Morphine
• D. Albuterol

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how to reverse opioid effects during an overdose. Naloxone (brand name Narcan) works as an opioid antagonist, meaning it binds strongly to mu-opioid receptors and kicks opioids off those receptors. By doing that, it quickly reverses dangerous effects like extreme drowsiness and, most crucially, respiratory depression. The onset is fast, so emergency reversal can happen within minutes, which is why this medication is the go-to antidote in suspected narcotic overdoses. Because its effect can wear off before some opioids do, patients need monitoring and sometimes repeat dosing.

Epinephrine is used for allergic reactions or cardiac emergencies, not to counteract opioid effects. Morphine is an opioid that can cause overdose symptoms, so it would not help and could worsen the situation. Albuterol opens airways in asthma or COPD, but it doesn’t impact opioid receptors. So, the best answer is naloxone, the antidote to narcotics.