What is the primary treatment for stimulant intoxication?

The primary treatment for stimulant intoxication focuses on addressing the agitation, anxiety, and cardiovascular symptoms commonly associated with the use of stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines. Benzodiazepines are effective for this purpose as they help to sedate the patient, reduce anxiety, and control agitation. These medications enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA, leading to CNS depression, which can alleviate the acute symptoms of stimulant intoxication.

Using benzodiazepines is particularly valuable due to their fast-acting nature and their ability to lower the risk of complications like seizures that can occur with stimulant use. They can also help manage hypertension and tachycardia indirectly by calming the patient, which reduces sympathetic outflow.

In contrast, the other options do not serve as primary treatments for stimulant intoxication. Therapeutic hypothermia is not indicated for this condition, and insulin administration is primarily used in cases of hyperglycemia, such as in diabetic emergencies. Beta-blockers may worsen stimulant-induced hypertension by blocking compensatory mechanisms and are therefore not recommended in the acute setting of stimulant toxicity.