Which medication is used for treating dysrhythmias in the case of an antidepressant overdose?

In the context of treating dysrhythmias associated with antidepressant overdose, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a key therapeutic agent, particularly for tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdoses. The mechanism by which NaHCO3 helps is by alkalinizing the serum, which can help to counteract the cardiotoxic effects of TCAs.

Sodium bicarbonate works by increasing the pH of the blood and stabilizing cardiac muscle excitability, thereby addressing toxic effects, particularly those related to sodium channel blockade that can occur with TCA overdoses. By doing this, it can be effective in managing ventricular dysrhythmias and mitigating cardiovascular complications that arise from this type of poisoning.

The other medications listed, while they may have their own uses in different contexts, are not typically the first-line treatment for dysrhythmias induced specifically by an antidepressant overdose. Amiodarone and lidocaine are primarily used in the management of various arrhythmias, but their use in the context of antidepressant overdoses is not as established as sodium bicarbonate. Ephedrine, primarily used as a bronchodilator or for treating hypotension, does not have a direct role in managing dysrhythmias resulting from