Reduction of flurazepam's antiseizure efficacy persists after stress

Twenty-four hours after mice were forced to swim for up to 10 min in cold (6°C) water, the ability of flurazepam to antagonize the electrical precipitation of seizures was reduced. This stress-induced reduction in flurazepam's antiseizure efficacy persisted for at least 72 h; but was absent 1 week after the single session of swim stress. The data may be relevant to stress-related psychiatric disorders and suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of benzodiazepines may be altered after a severe stress.