Patients having seizure activity despite administration of above medications were considered to have RSE. Out of thousands of patients seen in outdoor and emergency ward, 80 patients were diagnosed to have RSE and met the inclusion criteria. After counselling the parents/guardians about the medications and obtaining a written informed consent they were randomized to into two groups : sodium valproate(V) and levetiracetam group(L), using a computer generated randomization chart. Forty patients in group V received intravenous valproic acid in dose of 20 mg/kg as loading dose at a rate of 40 mg/min after dilution with normal saline followed by maintenance dose of 10mg/kg/dose 8 hourly. In group L patients received intravenous levetiracetam as loading dose of 30 mg/kg at a rate of 50 mg/min followed by 20mg/kg/dose 12 hourly.