Neurológia pre prax 3/2024

Convulsive status epilepticus and its early treatment

Convulsive status epilepticus is the form of a tonic-clonic seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes, or in the case of repeated tonic-clonic seizures within this time period. Initially is treated with benzodiazepines - diazepam i. v., midazolam i. m. or buccal, or diazepam administered rectally. If benzodiazepine therapy fails, intravenous administration of antiseizure drugs is indicated - levetiracetam at 60 mg/kg (maximum 4500 mg), valproate at 40 mg/kg (maximum 3000 mg), or phenytoin at 20 mg/kg (maximum 1500 mg). In this article, we present maintenance doses of the drugs and discuss their important pharmacological properties and possible adverse effects. Finally, we mention other drugs potentially useful in the treatment of convulsive status epilepticus that are available in a form for intravenous administration – lacosamide and brivaracetam.

Keywords: convulsive status epilepticus, initial therapy, benozodiazepines, established status epilepticus, intravenous anti-seizure drugs