Which agent is used for the reversal of narcotic-induced respiratory depression?

Naloxone is the appropriate agent used for the reversal of narcotic-induced respiratory depression. Opioids can lead to a significant decrease in respiratory rate and depth due to their action on mu-opioid receptors in the brainstem, which are responsible for controlling breathing. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it competes with opioids for the same receptors, effectively displacing them and reversing their effects. This property makes it crucial in emergency settings where individuals have overdosed on narcotics, thereby restoring breathing and preventing respiratory failure.

Flumazenil, while it is a benzodiazepine antagonist used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepine overdose, does not have any efficacy against opioid-induced respiratory depression. Neostigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor primarily used to treat myasthenia gravis and to reverse effects of neuromuscular blockade, but it does not act on the opioid receptors. Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that can be useful in treating bradycardia but does not counteract the depressant effects of narcotics on the respiratory system.

Thus, the use of naloxone is critical in clinical situations involving opioid overdose, making it the correct choice for reversing narcotic