The misuse of benzodiazepines (BNZ)s may result in serious side effects. Th
ree cases of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) following abrupt discontin
uation of long-term use of 25 mg of lorazepam in one patient and more than
20 mg of flunitrazepam in two patients are presented; they were non-epilept
ics and free of other high-risk factors for seizures. A favorable outcome f
or all three cases was noted. They remain free of seizures without antiepil
eptic treatment. Nevertheless, because of the extensive use of benzodiazepi
nes, such rare high-risk side effects must be emphasized. (C) 2000 Elsevier
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