Furosemide Terminates Limbic Status Epilepticus in Freely Moving Rats.

The purpose of the article is to evaluate anticonvulsant properties of furosemide and to determine sedative side effects compared with pentobarbital and diuretic side effects compared with saline-treated controls in an experimental model of limbic status epilepticus. Self-sustaining status epilepticus was induced in rats by continuous electrical stimulation of the perforant path. Five minutes after the end of the stimulation, animals were given 100 mg/kg furosemide, 30 mg/kg pentobarbital, or an equal amount of saline. In seven of 10 animals, furosemide terminated status epilepticus after 68 min, whereas pentobarbital was successful in all animals after 5 min. In contrast to pentobarbital, sedation did not occur with furosemide. Weight loss after furosemide was 10.2 % compared with 6.5%. Results suggest that furosemide may serve as an alternative or additional agent for refractory complex partial status epilepticus in patients in whom common anesthetics are not justifiable.