Favourable prognosis of prolonged coma associated with large doses of diazepam in severe tetanus.

A report is made of five tetanus patients who were treated with large repetitive doses of Diazepam and became comatose. The period of impaired consciousness varied from thirteen to twenty-one days. None had significant respiratory depression, and full recovery occurred in all. It is proposed that Diazepam-induced prolonged coma should be regarded as a side-effect rather than a toxic effect and should caution rather than contra-indicate further use of large doses of the drug in the management of tetanus.