Breakthrough Study Sheds Light on Best Meds for Children with Seizures

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association provides more information about which drug — lorazepam versus diazepam — is more safe and effective for children suffering from seizures. The results of the clinical trial showed that both medications are equally effective and safe. “This is an important step for all of us who frequently treat kids in the ER for [epilepsy related] seizures, since it answers the question about the best medication to use in ending the convulsions and getting these patients back to normal brain functioning,” said one of the authors of the study. Describing the brain convulsions that were targeted by the study, its authors pointed out that status epilepticus occurs when an epilepsy-related seizure lasts more than 30 minutes. These seizures (which occur in more than 10,000 U.S. pediatric epilepsy patients every year) can cause permanent brain damage or even death, if persisted. To read more about this study, click here.