Epilepsia
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Review
Pharmacokinetics and clinical use of benzodiazepines in the management of status epilepticus.
Benzodiazepines are potent and effective drugs for the management of acute seizures and status epilepticus. Lorazepam, diazepam, and clonazepam have been the most widely studied of the benzodiazepines in the treatment of status epilepticus. In 47 studies of these drugs involving 1,455 patients, lasting control of status epilepticus was achieved in 79% of the patients. ⋯ This allows the orderly administration of an antiepileptic drug for long-term seizure control after status epilepticus has been controlled. For this reason, lorazepam is preferable for the initial management of status epilepticus. Continuous intravenous infusion of diazepam has been used successfully in the management of some patients with status epilepticus refractory to initial treatment.