Benzodiazepines may reduce the frequency of recurrent febrile seizures.
Intermittent rectal diazepam administered at a dose of 5 mg every 8 hours when the temperature is above 38.4 °C is effective in reducing the frequency of recurrences.
Intermittent oral diazepam at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg every 8 hours when the child is febrile is also effective in prevention of recurrent FS, but drowsiness, ataxia, or both occur in 30% of the children and limit the usefulness of oral diazepam.
Intermittent clobazam (given as soon as the fever occurs for 48 hours at a dose of 0.3 to 1.0 mg/kg up to a maximum dose of 10 mg b.i.d.) has been shown in a placebo-controlled study to be effective in reducing febrile seizure recurrence.
Intermittent cloba zam has also been shown to be associated with fewer side effects than intermittent oral diazepam in children with febrile seizures.