Time-dependent reduction in the anticonvulsant effectiveness of diazepam against soman-induced seizures in guinea pigs.

Abstract

Near-lethal exposure to nerve agents produces prolonged epileptiform seizures requiring the administration of benzodiazepine anticonvulsant drugs, such as diazepam. Clinically, benzodiazepines are reported to lose anticonvulsant effectiveness the greater the delay between seizure onset and benzodiazepine treatment. This time-dependent diminished effectiveness of diazepam was tested in the present study. Seizures elicited by the nerve agent, soman, were produced in guinea pigs instrumented to record brain electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity. Different groups of animals were administered 10 mg/kg, intramuscularly, of diazepam at 5, 40, 60, 80, or 160 minutes after the onset of seizure activity. There was a progressive loss in the anticonvulsant efficacy of diazepam as the treatment was delayed after seizure onset, but no differences in the time for diazepam to stop seizures. The results show a diminished ability of diazepam to stop nerve-agent-induced seizures the longer treatment is delayed.

• Authors: John H McDonough, Joseph D McMonagle, Tsung-Ming Shih
• Journal: Drug and chemical toxicology (Drug Chem Toxicol) Vol. 33 Issue 3 Pg. 279-83 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1525-6014 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20429808 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Chemical Warfare Agents
• Soman
• Diazepam

Topics

• Animals
• Anticonvulsants (pharmacology)
• Chemical Warfare Agents (toxicity)
• Diazepam (pharmacology)
• Electroencephalography
• Guinea Pigs
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• Seizures (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Soman (antagonists & inhibitors, toxicity)
• Time Factors