The Use of Althesin in Drug‐Resistant Status Epilepticus

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Abstract
The anticonvulsant activity, depression of O2 consumption, lowering of ICP [intracranial pressure], rapid excretion of Altheoin (alfaxalone plus alfadolane) prompted use of this steroid combination to treat 11 patients in status epilepticus resistant to the standard drugs (benzodiazepines and barbiturates). The administration of Althesin by slow i.v. injection was ineffective in 2 of the 3 patients thus treated. The doses used (2-10 ml) were probably too small. One administration of a 10% solution of Althesin in 10% fructose by i.v. drip (the rate was calculated so as to obtain the burst suppression stage at the EEG) stopped status epilepticus in 7 of the 9 patients thus treated. In this group the doses used varied from 25 to 50 ml. The 2 patients in whom it was necessary to repeat Althesin administration and combine it with other drugs had both been operated on for severe brain injuries involving marked cerebral edema. In spite of the very small number of cases, the definitive arrest of status epilepticus obtained in 8 of 11 patients first treated with other drugs is encouraging: Althesin probably may be regarded as an adjunct in the treatment of status epilepticus.