Six patients suffering from status epilepticus were refractory to parenteral treatment with either diazepam, amobarbital or both, and were given sodium valproate 200 to 800 mg every 6 hours. The drug was administered rectally as 200 mg lipid-based suppositories, thereby avoiding impaired absorption, which occurs in the presence of paralytic ileus. Plasma levels of sodium valproate in all patients reached the therapeutic range within 36 hours of starting therapy. Seizures were totally controlled in five patients and a 75 percent reduction was noted in the sixth. In two patients, the route of administration was changed from rectal to an equivalent oral dose with continuing control of seizures and minimal change in plasma levels, suggesting that bioavailability is similar for the two forms of the drug. The rectal route of administration was effective in achieving systemic absorption of sodium valproate in the treatment of status epilepticus.