For which condition is naloxone primarily used?

Naloxone is primarily used for opioid overdose because it is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of opioids in the body. When someone overdoses on an opioid, their respiratory function can slow down significantly, leading to life-threatening situations, such as respiratory failure or death. Naloxone works by binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids do, effectively displacing them and reversing their effects.

In scenarios of an opioid overdose, timely administration of naloxone can restore normal breathing and consciousness, making it a critical tool in emergency medicine for treating such cases. This capability of quickly counteracting the potentially fatal effects of opioids solidifies its primary role in emergencies related to opioid overdoses.

Other conditions listed, such as allergic reactions, severe dehydration, and cardiac arrest, require different treatments and interventions, making naloxone ineffective for these situations.