Which medication is recommended as first-line therapy for the termination of acute generalized status epilepticus in adults who have intravenous access?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Intravenous Lorazepam
- Step 1: Status epilepticus (continuous seizure activity lasting ≥ 5 minutes) requires immediate GABA-ergic inhibition.
- Step 2: American Epilepsy Society and Neurocritical Care Society guidelines designate IV Lorazepam (0.1 mg/kg, up to 4 mg) as the preferred first-line agent for emergent seizure termination due to its rapid onset and longer duration of central anticonvulsant action compared to diazepam.
Answer
Intravenous Lorazepam.
Why not the others: Oral medications cannot be administered safely during active seizures; Phenytoin and Valproate are second-line urgency agents that do not act rapidly enough for initial termination.
Practise more Clinical Medicine, Emergency Care and Therapeutics.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed DHA Dubai mock tests.
More Clinical Medicine, Emergency Care and Therapeutics questions
- A 62-year-old male presents with severe crushing retrosternal chest pain. ECG confirms acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Acc…
- A 45-year-old female presents to the emergency department in septic shock with a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 52 mmHg despite receiving 3…
- A 28-year-old male with severe acute asthma exacerbation develops acute respiratory distress, tracheal deviation to the right, and absent br…
- A 54-year-old chronic kidney disease patient presents with severe muscle weakness. The serum potassium is 7.2 mEq/L, and ECG shows tall peak…
- A 4-year-old child weighing 18 kg is admitted for dehydration. Using the standard Holliday-Segar formula, what is the calculated 24-hour mai…
- A 36-year-old woman is evaluated for profound fatigue and pallor. Complete blood count shows microcytic hypochromic anemia. Which laboratory…