A 32-year-old woman comes to the office because she has felt sad and worthless for the past 3 months and often cries for no obvious reason.  The patient has difficulty sleeping, her appetite is decreased, and she no longer enjoys spending time with friends.  She has no significant medical history.  A pregnancy test is negative, and TSH is within normal limits.  The physician discusses the diagnosis with the patient and initiates first-line pharmacologic treatment.  Two days later, the patient is brought to the emergency department after being found lying down next to an empty bottle of the prescribed medication.  Temperature is 38.9 C (102 F), blood pressure is 146/92 mm Hg, and heart rate is 118/min and regular.  The patient is disoriented, tremulous, and diaphoretic.  She has abdominal cramps and diarrhea.  Neurologic examination reveals pupillary dilation, bilateral hyperreflexia in the lower extremities, and bilateral, inducible ankle clonus.

Item 1 of 2

Which of the following amino acids is a precursor of the neurotransmitter most likely responsible for this patient’s current symptoms?

Item 2 of 2

The patient is admitted to the hospital and supportive therapy is initiated.  However, she remains disoriented with only limited improvement of her condition.  Which of the following is the antidote for this patient’s condition?