Seizures

Question 1

lorazepam (Ativan)

Answer 1

Medications for 
Status Epilepticus

Requires rapid-acting IV medications

Use long acting drug with

Question 2

diazepam (Valium)

Answer 2

Medications for 
Status Epilepticus

Requires rapid-acting IV medications

Usually would give lorazepam (ativan) first because valium causes nausea

Use long acting drug with

Question 3

phenytoin or phenobarbital

Answer 3

long-acting drug

Question 4

Primary drugs for treatment of generalized tonic-clonic and focal seizures

Answer 4

phenytoin (Dilantin)
carbamazepine (Tegretol)
phenobarbital
divalproex (Depakote)
primidone (Mysoline)

Others
lamotrigine (Lamictal)
topiramate (Topamax)
levetiracetam (Keppra)

Question 5

which drugs do you use for an acute seizure that does not spontaneously resolve

Answer 5

diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), and midazolam (Versed®)

Question 6

which drugs do you use for status epilepticus

Answer 6

Requires rapid-acting IV medications
Benzodiazepines such lorazepam (Ativan) or diazepam (Valium)
Followed by a long-acting drug such as phenytoin or phenobarbital (a barbiturate)