Clinical studies of lorazepam in status epilepticus.

Abstract

The collective clinical data support the concept that lorazepam is highly effective for a broad range of seizure types, with the major inadequacy being in myoclonus, a seizure type typically highly resistant to other anticonvulsants as well. In addition to its effectiveness, lorazepam appears to have two other major advantages; a prolonged duration of action, which makes frequent or continuous administration unnecessary, and a high degree of freedom from serious side effects involving either the respiratory or cardiovascular system. Although experience at this time is insufficient to allow a firm statement concerning effective concentrations, such concentrations appear readily achievable in most patients with injections of 4 to 5 mg. Lorazepam appears to meet all the requirements of an anticonvulsant useful for treatment of status epilepticus and should prove to be a major drug in the treatment of this condition.

• Authors: R W Homan, J E Walker
• Journal: Advances in neurology (Adv Neurol) Vol. 34 Pg. 493-8 ( 1983) ISSN: 0091-3952 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6131587 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Anxiety Agents
• Lorazepam

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Anxiety Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Lorazepam (adverse effects, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Status Epilepticus (drug therapy, metabolism)