Which medication does the nurse anticipate administering first to stop an active seizure?

Rationale: A. Phenobarbital: Phenobarbital is a barbiturate that can be used for seizure control, particularly in refractory cases, but it has a slower onset of action when given intravenously. It is not the first-line agent for stopping an active seizure due to the need for rapid seizure termination. B. Levetiracetam: Levetiracetam is an anticonvulsant used for long-term seizure management and can be given intravenously. However, it does not act as quickly as benzodiazepines and is not the first-choice medication for terminating an ongoing seizure. C. Lorazepam: Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine with a rapid onset of action that enhances GABA activity, producing immediate CNS depression to stop active seizures. It is the first-line treatment for acute seizure management, including status epilepticus, because it rapidly terminates seizure activity and stabilizes the patient. D. Carbamazepine: Carbamazepine is an oral or intravenous anticonvulsant primarily used for chronic seizure control, trigeminal neuralgia, and bipolar disorder. It has a slow onset and is not effective for terminating an active seizure acutely.