Predictors for and use of rescue medication in adults with epilepsy: A multicentre cross-sectional study from Germany

Despite adequate therapy with antiseizure medication (ASM), one-third of patients continue to have seizures, which may evolve into seizure emergencies, including seizure clusters, prolonged episodes, and status epilepticus, which represent life-threatening neurological emergencies with serious cerebral and systemic sequelae.[1,2] Rescue medications are given as needed to disrupt the progression of a seizure and forestall what would otherwise be a more prolonged or severe clinical event.[3,4]Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam, lorazepam, and midazolam, are positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors, whose activation leads to an increase in intracellular chloride, hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, and reduced excitation.
Source: Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research