Which of the following is listed as treatment for SSRI overdose?

Which of the following is listed as treatment for SSRI overdose?

• A. Activated charcoal
• B. Naloxone
• C. Finkelstein's test
• D. Flumazenil

Answer: (C)

In SSRI overdose, early gut decontamination with activated charcoal is a standard treatment when the patient can protect their airway and presents within a short window after ingestion. Activated charcoal binds the overdose in the stomach and intestines, reducing absorption and lowering peak drug levels, which can lessen toxicity. There is no specific antidote for SSRIs, so management is mainly supportive, with monitoring for serotonin syndrome and other complications and using medications like benzodiazepines for agitation if needed. The other options address toxicities from entirely different drugs or are not treatments for overdose at all—naloxone reverses opioids, flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines, and Finkelstein's test is a diagnostic maneuver for a hand condition. Therefore, activated charcoal is the appropriate treatment listed.

In SSRI overdose, early gut decontamination with activated charcoal is a standard treatment when the patient can protect their airway and presents within a short window after ingestion. Activated charcoal binds the overdose in the stomach and intestines, reducing absorption and lowering peak drug levels, which can lessen toxicity. There is no specific antidote for SSRIs, so management is mainly supportive, with monitoring for serotonin syndrome and other complications and using medications like benzodiazepines for agitation if needed. The other options address toxicities from entirely different drugs or are not treatments for overdose at all—naloxone reverses opioids, flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines, and Finkelstein's test is a diagnostic maneuver for a hand condition. Therefore, activated charcoal is the appropriate treatment listed.