Question

A patient arrives in the ED via EMS having a grand mal seizure. The ED physician instructs the RN to give 10 milligrams of Diazepam IV X1 dose STAT. The patient’s seizure breaks within 2 minutes of the Diazepam being administered. The mechanism by which this medication causes rapid resolution of seizure activity is via which receptor type (effector pathway/receptor subtype)?

Answer 1

diazepam belongs to antianxiety drugs and subcategory of benzodiazepines. it has anticonvulsant, and sedative properties. it acts on gamma amino butryic acid a receptor, which are present in post synaptic cleft. these receptors are permeable to chloride ions when there is hyperpolarization of chloride ions. diazepam as an anticonvulsant, increases the conduction of chloride ions thereby causing cns depression, inhibition of action potential and reduction to seizure activity.