Cardiovascular response to rapid phenytoin infusion during seizures in paralyzed rats

The maximum rate at which phenytoin may be safely administered without inducing hypotension has been evaluated in nonconvulsing animals and man; no comparable information during convulsions of either animals or man is available. Comparison of blood pressure and ECG responses to rapid phenytoin infusion in nonconvulsing rats and in rats during bicuculline-induced status epilepticus suggests that the hypertensive response of convulsions may protect against phenytoin-induced hypotension, thus indicating that more rapid administration of phenytoin during convulsions might be possible with careful monitoring.