The sedative drugs diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan) are equally effective in treating the prolonged seizures known as [i]status epilepticus[/i] in children, according to a randomised, controlled study by a multi-institution team of researchers with the [b]Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network[/b]. [s]HealthCanal[/s] reports that diazepam and lorazepam are given intravenously for the treatment of prolonged seizures and previous studies in children had suggested that lorazepam was more effective in stopping convulsions or had lower rates of breathing-related side effects. The new study found that both medications were effective in stopping [i]status epilepticus[/i] in more than 70% of cases and caused respiratory side effects in less than 20% of patients.
[link url=http://www.healthcanal.com/child-health/50090-two-commonly-used-medications-equally-effective-in-treating-seizures-in-children.html]Full HealthCanal report[/link]
[link url=http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1861799]JAMA abstract[/link]