Phenobarbital Versus Valproate for Generalized Convulsive Status Epilepticus

Inclusion Criteria: * All consecutive GCSE patients (after the failure of first-line diazepam treatment) who were admitted in the emergency room or neurocritical care unit in Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University. Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable vital signs, such as a systolic blood pressure of \<90 mm Hg, a pulse of \<60 beats per min, or an arterial blood oxygen saturation of \<90%, * Liver dysfunction (alanine transaminase or total bilirubin of more than twice the normal upper limit), * Neurologic emergency requiring immediate surgical intervention, * Pregnancy or breast feeding, * Hypersensitivity to study drugs.