In case of an overdose on calcium channel blockers, what is the primary treatment?

In the case of an overdose on calcium channel blockers, administering calcium chloride is the primary treatment because it acts directly to counteract the effects of the overdose. Calcium channel blockers work by inhibiting calcium from entering cells, which can lead to decreased myocardial contractility, bradycardia, and hypotension. The administration of calcium chloride helps to restore calcium levels in the bloodstream, thus supporting cardiac function and stabilizing vascular tone.

Calcium is critical for various cellular processes, especially in cardiac myocytes. In an overdose scenario, the body's calcium store becomes depleted due to the blockade of calcium channels, and supplementing calcium can effectively reverse some of the adverse cardiovascular effects associated with the overdose.

Other treatments mentioned, such as dantrolene, sodium bicarbonate, and N-acetylcysteine, are not first-line interventions for calcium channel blocker overdose. Dantrolene is primarily used for malignant hyperthermia and certain muscle disorders, sodium bicarbonate is typically used in specific cases of metabolic acidosis or tricyclic antidepressant overdose, and N-acetylcysteine is an antidote for acetaminophen overdose. None of these directly address the cardiovascular complications resulting from calcium channel blocker toxicity as effectively as calcium chloride does.