Treatment of status epilepticus with lorazepam.

Twenty-one episodes of status epilepticus (SE) were each treated with 1 to 9 mg (mean, 4 mg) of intravenous lorazepam. All patients with generalized tonic-clonic ( GTC ) SE responded within 15 minutes. Nine (82%) of the 11 patients with episodes of partial SE with altered responsiveness responded poorly. Respiratory depression occurred in five instances (two requiring intubation) and was associated with transient loss of brain-stem reflexes, hypotension, and decorticate posturing in three cases. Generalized tonic-clonic SE was transformed into partial SE with altered responsiveness in three patients. In an additional four patients, marked lethargy developed. Lorazepam appears effective in controlling GTC SE but only occasionally effective in partial SE with altered responsiveness.