Prefer diazepam for initial control of pre-eclampsic fits

BMJ 1995;311:1433 (25 November)

Letters

Prefer diazepam for initial control of pre-eclampsic fits

EDITOR,--James P Neilson¹ draws attention to data from a recenttrial comparing three anticonvulsant regimens for women witheclampsia.² He suggests that magnesium sulphate is the drugof choice, its main advantage being the lower rate of recurrentconvulsions. He makes no distinction, however, between the controlof an active convulsion and the prevention of further fits.

It is important to achieve rapid control of an eclamptic fitbecause of the risks of hypoxia (to the woman and fetus), inhalationof gastric contents, and physical injury. We believe that diazepamgiven intravenously is the best available agent for this. Itis highly effective at stopping convulsions³ and can be givensimply and quickly: it takes little more than a minute to obtaina syringe, needle, and phial of diazepam from the emergencytrolley and to check, prepare, and start giving the drug. Theconvulsion generally stops within one minute of . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Magnesium sulphate: the drug of choice in eclampsia: James P Neilson
BMJ 1995 311: 702-703. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Duley, L. (2003). Pre-eclampsia and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Br Med Bull 67: 161-176 [Abstract] [Full text]
Mcgrath, A., Jackson, G. A (1996). Authors' reply. BMJ 312: 1669-1669 [Full text]
Fox, R., Draycott, T. (1996). Diazepam is more useful than magnesium for immediate control of eclampsia. BMJ 312: 1669b-1670 [Full text]
Duley, L. (1996). Magnesium sulphate should be used for eclamptic fits. BMJ 312: 639-639 [Full text]