What is the primary management for GHB overdose leading to recurrent apnoea?

The primary management for GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) overdose, particularly when it leads to recurrent apnoea, is to support the airway and provide ventilation. GHB is a central nervous system depressant, and overdose can result in significant respiratory depression and apnoea, which poses an immediate threat to life due to insufficient oxygen supply.

Supporting the airway is crucial in these situations to ensure that the patient can breathe adequately or to assist ventilation if they are unable to do so independently. This often involves assessing the patient's ability to maintain their airway and using methods such as supplemental oxygen, bag-mask ventilation, or intubation if necessary to secure the airway effectively.

While other options exist, they are not the primary interventions necessary in the context of a GHB overdose with recurrent apnoea. Flumazenil, for instance, is sometimes used as an antidote for benzodiazepine overdose, but it is not effective for GHB and poses risks of seizures in mixed overdoses. Providing activated charcoal may be appropriate in some cases of poisoning if the patient is alert and within a certain timeframe of ingestion, but it does not address the immediate threat to the airway. Monitoring closely and waiting for spontaneous recovery can be part of the