Which statement correctly describes toxins and cardiac arrest?

Which statement correctly describes toxins and cardiac arrest?

• A. Reversal agents are not used in drug overdoses
• B. Only illicit drugs cause arrest
• C. Overdoses of therapeutic drugs may precipitate arrest; reversal agents are drug-specific
• D. Poisoning cannot cause arrest

Answer: (C)

Toxins and cardiac arrest share a direct link: overdoses, even of medications we prescribe, can trigger arrest, and the treatment often hinges on using antidotes that are specific to the exact drug involved. This is why the statement that overdoses of therapeutic drugs may precipitate arrest and that reversal agents are drug-specific is the best choice. It captures both the possibility of toxin-related arrest and the tailored nature of treatment. For example, naloxone reverses opioid toxicity, N-acetylcysteine treats acetaminophen poisoning, and digoxin toxicity can be addressed with digoxin-specific antibody fragments. These examples show that the right antidote depends on identifying the toxin, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. In contrast, reversal agents are indeed used in drug overdoses, not only illicit drugs cause arrest, and poisoning certainly can cause arrest, so those statements don’t fit as accurately.

Toxins and cardiac arrest share a direct link: overdoses, even of medications we prescribe, can trigger arrest, and the treatment often hinges on using antidotes that are specific to the exact drug involved. This is why the statement that overdoses of therapeutic drugs may precipitate arrest and that reversal agents are drug-specific is the best choice. It captures both the possibility of toxin-related arrest and the tailored nature of treatment. For example, naloxone reverses opioid toxicity, N-acetylcysteine treats acetaminophen poisoning, and digoxin toxicity can be addressed with digoxin-specific antibody fragments. These examples show that the right antidote depends on identifying the toxin, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. In contrast, reversal agents are indeed used in drug overdoses, not only illicit drugs cause arrest, and poisoning certainly can cause arrest, so those statements don’t fit as accurately.