A clinical trial of single dose rectal and oral administration of diazepam for the prevention of serial seizures in adult epileptic patients. Issue 3 (March 1984)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Milligan, N M; Dhillon, S; Griffiths, A; Oxley, J; Richens, A
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 47:Issue 3(1984)
• Page Start: 235
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 1984-03
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.47.3.235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : The clinical anticonvulsant efficacy of single dose rectal and oral administration of diazepam 20 mg was examined in two double-blind placebo-controlled trials in adult epileptic patients. All subjects suffered from drug resistant epilepsy and frequently experienced serial seizures. Diazepam was administered rectally as a new experimental suppository formulation immediately after a seizure and was highly effective in preventing recurrent fits within a 24 h observation period (p less than 0.001). Pharmacokinetic studies revealed a wide range of serum diazepam concentrations 60 min after administration of the suppository (mean serum diazepam level 190 +/- 73 (SD ng/ml). In a similar study oral administration of diazepam 20 mg significantly reduced the incidence of serial seizures compared with a placebo (p less than 0.01) and the mean 60 min serum diazepam level was 273 +/- 190 (SD) ng/ml.