Second-line status epilepticus treatment: comparison of phenytoin, valproate, and levetiracetam.
Alvarez V, Januel JM, Burnand B et al.
Phenytoin, valproic acid (VPA), or levetiracetam are commonly used as second-line agents in the treatment of status epilepticus, but data relating to comparative effectiveness of these agents are lacking. The authors of this study retrospectively identified 187 episodes in which phenytoin, VPA, or levetiracetam were given after benzodiazepines among 279 patients with status epilepticus. Patients with post-anoxic status epilepticus were excluded from the study.