An alcoholic patient who has been suffering continuous seizures for more than half an hour is unlikely to benefit from the administration of which of the following agents?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Theophylline sometimes causes seizures in overdose. It cannot be used to prevent or treat them, and it would not be a wise choice in a patient such as the one described in this question, who has status epilepticus. Benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam) and barbiturates (such as phenobarbital) can be used to treat seizures. See Appendix 12-2: Emergency Situations in Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Hypomagnesemia is a contributory factor in alcohol withdrawal seizures, a problem commonly managed in the ICU. Magnesium sulfate is a useful treatment for this.

An Alcoholic Patient Who Has Been Suffering Continuous Seizures for More