Intravenous Diazepam in the Treatment of Prolonged Seizure Activity

Abstract

RECENTLY intravenous diazepam (Valium) has been reported to be extremely effective in controlling "status epilepticus,"^{1 2 3 4 5 6} or what we prefer to call prolonged seizure activity. Both Gastaut et al.¹ and Lombroso² consider it to be the drug of choice in this disorder. Most of the patients that have been described have had a history of idiopathic epilepsy before prolonged seizure activity developed, and in all but a few, this activity has terminated abruptly with the initial injection. The quantities of medication used were small enough to permit the rapid return of consciousness, and no serious depression of respiration or blood pressure . . .