Midazolam: An Improved Anticonvulsant Treatment for Nerve Agent-Induced Seizures
Abstract
The drug midazolam has been recommended to replace diazepam as the immediate anticonvulsant treatment for nerve agent-induced seizures. This recommendation marks the latest decision in an ongoing program to improve medical countermeasures to treat nerve agent poisoning. Extensive rodent screening studies first identified midazolam as the most promising compound to focus on for advanced testing. Midazolam was then evaluated directly with diazepam for the ability to terminate nerve agent seizures in a nonhuman primate model. In all animal tests midazolam was twice as potent and more rapidly acting than diazepam, thus minimizing the possibility of seizure-induced brain damage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA436040
Entities
People
- John H. McDonough
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense