The pharmacokinetics of agents used to treat status epilepticus.

A thorough understanding of the pharmacologic properties of lipid-soluble drugs is essential when using these agents to treat status epilepticus. In addition to physiologic factors, such as blood pressure and cerebral blood flow, pharmacokinetic principles, including half-life, distribution, elimination, and volume of distribution (with special regard to an agent's lipid-solubility rating), should be applied. These factors, in toto, will influence the choice of drug, its loading dose, and its therapeutic dose.