[Influence of diazepam and phenytoin on penicillin-induced cerebral convulsions (author's transl)].

The effects of diazepam and phenytoin on penicillin-induced EEG changes and convulsions were studied in 32 rabbits. EEG changes and convulsions were elicited by 2.4 g/kg benzylpenicillin i.v. over 50 min. The dosages of the anticonvulsants were 1, 5 and 10 mg of diazepam and 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg of phenytoin. The qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation of the electroencephalograms revealed no reduction of spike frequency or spike amplitude for either of the two drugs. However, in contrast to phenytoin, diazepam was highly effective in preventing the development of generalized convulsions. None of the 12 diazepam-treated animals developed a convulsion, whereas in most of the phenytoin treated animals and in most of the controls generalized convulsions appeared. The results suggest that diazepam should be used in the treatment of penicillin-encephalopathy.