Febrile Seizure: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic target

Seizure breakthrough

Therapy recommendations

• Short-term use of benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam rectally (“into the rectum”) or, if appropriate, midazolam buccally/cheekwise) for seizure durations of 3 minutes or more
• Stepwise regimen for seizure breakthrough:
  • Lorazepam or diazepam; if unsuccessful.
  • Phenoabarbital or phenytoin
• If necessary, diazepam prophylaxis for fever (0.33 mg/kg/d; not > 72 h) is used for recurrent febrile convulsions.
• See also under “Further therapy.”

Further notes

• Although measures to reduce fever are useful, they cannot prevent further seizures.