Lorazepam vs Diazepam for Status Epilepticus

Abstract

The median time to termination of SE was 2.5 min in the diazepam group and 2 min in the lorazepam group (p=0.80). Assisted-ventilation (bag-valve-mask ventilation or endotracheal intubation) was administered in 26 patients in each group (16.0% given diazepam and 17.6% given lorazepam). There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy or safety outcomes in the two groups, except that lorazepam patients were more likely to be sedated (66.9% vs 50%, respectively). There was a significant difference favoring diazepam in time to return to baseline mental status (p=0.0004). The estimate for efficacy for febrile SE was lower than for other etiologies (65.2% vs 76.1%, respectively).