Question

"You arrive on-scene of a seizure call to find a 22-year-old patient actively seizing. Family on scene reports the patient has an epileptic seizure disorder that sometimes causes seizures that last a minute or two. Today, the seizure has lasted for longer than fifteen minutes prior to your arrival without a break in the tonic-clonic phase. Your attempts to gain IV access are restricted due to the ongoing seizure activity.

Which of the following is the drug of choice for intramuscular injection to control the prolonged seizure in this situation?

A) Thiamine
B) 50 percent dextrose (D50)
C) Lorazepam
D) Etomidate"

Answer 1

Lorazepam is the drug of choice for intramuscular injection to control prolonged seizures when IV access is not possible. It is a benzodiazepine anticonvulsant that provides quick seizure control in emergency situations such as status epilepticus.

Step-by-step explanation:

The drug of choice for intramuscular injection to control a prolonged seizure, in this case, is Lorazepam. Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, are anticonvulsants that are commonly used to manage acute seizure activity. Since intravenous access is not feasible during active seizure activity, intramuscular injection is an appropriate alternative. Lorazepam is preferred in this setting because it is effective at stopping seizures, relatively easy to administer, and acts quickly when given intramuscularly.

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures and can be caused by a variety of factors including brain injury, disease, or genetic conditions. Seizures that last for an extended period, such as longer than five minutes, without a break in the tonic-clonic phase, are known as status epilepticus, a medical emergency requiring prompt treatment to prevent brain damage and other complications.