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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Lancet Neurol. 2011 Oct;10(10):922–930. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70187-9

Table 2.

Other pharmacological and nutritional treatments for RSE (see text for references)

Advantages Disadvantages/Remarks
Isoflurane72 Fast acting Possible neurotoxicity Needs close system
Ketamine74–77 Anti-NMDA Possible neurotoxicity, combine with BDZ
Lidocaine 76, 77 May rescue PHT- resistant RSE Cardiac monitoring needed; possible seizures induction
Verapamil 90, 91 Safe Not AED action, may optimize availability of AED in CSF
Magnesium94 May enhance NMDA blockade May induce neuromuscular blockade
Ketogenic diet95, 96 Safe Need experienced dietologist; check ketonuria
Immunological Treatments93 May act causally Formal exclusion of infection before treatment

AED: antiepileptic drug; BDZ: benzodiazepines; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; RSE: refractory status epilepticus