|
|
The type of medicines used most commonly for ‘as needed’ treatment are from a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. These are generally fast-acting, which means they will start to work quickly once they get into the bloodstream. Some benzodiazepines can be swallowed in pill form, some can be placed under the tongue or placed between the cheek and the gum, and some can be given rectally or by a nasal spray. Giving them intravenously by an injection into a muscle or vein is only done in hospital settings.
The names of benzodiazepines that are most commonly used as rescue medications include: diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), and midazolam (Versed®). The availability of these medicines in different forms and how they are used may vary from country to country. In the United States, only rectal diazepam gel, commonly known by the brand name Diastat®, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for out-of-hospital use for the treatment of acute repetitive seizures or clusters. The other ones have been used in out-of-hospital treatment but have not yet been approved by the FDA.
The main points to consider in using these medicines is how fast they will act, what forms may be available, who can give it, and how easy it may be to use. Other factors such as cost, possible side effects, and everyone’s comfort level in using the medicines must be talked about with your doctor.
People who may need a fast-acting medicine at specific times for breakthrough seizures and who are alert and able to swallow may use one of the pill forms of lorazepam or diazepam. People who are not able to swallow for some reason may be given a form that can be given under the tongue (sublingual), between the cheek and gum (buccally), or sprayed into a nostril (nasal spray). People who are not able to take an oral form of benzodiazepine can use the rectal form. This is most often prescribed for children.
Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07
Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.
No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| 4yr. complex febrile but just had 2 seizures w/out fever please help! | Jul 26, 2009 | |
| krisnichole | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED, OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S DIED FROM "VNS" | Nov 21, 2009 | |
| nancyjudy | ||
| vns therapy side effects | Nov 21, 2009 | |
| helenpe1 | ||
| Is it typical for an epileptic person to pace constantly or have sudden rushes of energy making you want to run? | Nov 21, 2009 | |
| Concordia | ||
| Epileptologist in DFW? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| dhemphill | ||
| How long is open trileptal suspension bottle good for? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| Sholow | ||
| Can we have white chocolate? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| lilcrumb3 | ||
| Keppra and depression | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| jennysomers | ||
| AFTER SURGERY-IS THAT FEELING A SEIZURE??????? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| gregg9130 | ||
| Frontal Lobe Epilepsy | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| Jesscottwvwv | ||
| seizure recovery... | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| jubatum | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,424 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 18,947 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 18,843 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 15,716 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| Epilepsy and marijuana | 15,216 | |
| cjad234 | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 13,080 | |
| George R | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 12,910 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 11,357 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 10,020 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 9,421 | |
| Maggie | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Living alone | May 12, 2009 | |
| ladybugg31186 | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Depression and Epilepsy | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| MichaelK | ||
| What a day! | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| epi_help | ||
| Results with my Neurologist, med changes and life changes | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| Gina Marie | ||
| i broke his ankle... | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| jacky99 | ||
| Sleep deprivation EEG | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| freedbythewind | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Links of London jewelry | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| tiffanyblog | ||
| A novice writer needs YOUR help! | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| ACSutliff | ||
| Heck of a day | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| 4mygirl2 | ||
| vaic t800 TV cell phone with camera | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| agoodsellers | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts | 8,002 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| my partial complex seizures | 3,859 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,649 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,464 | |
| JudiS | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,061 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Feeling Sick | 2,907 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 2,853 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,801 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,712 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,595 | |
| teft | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Grandparents of grandchildren with Epilepsy | Nov 14, 2009 | |
| EmiliesGrandma | ||
| neeraj clinic, rishikesh,india | Nov 14, 2009 | |
| ankita gupta | ||
| Project Uplift | Nov 4, 2009 | |
| tamliniscute | ||
| SEIZURE FREE | Nov 3, 2009 | |
| gracie9933 | ||
| EPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUP NORTH CAROLINA | Oct 9, 2009 | |
| Roxanne D | ||
| Community Feedback on Proposed New epilepsy.com Feature | Sep 30, 2009 | |
| kdredske | ||
| Parent with Child with Epilepsy,Dystonia, and Autism | Sep 24, 2009 | |
| TashaCole | ||
| RX outreach Program | Sep 22, 2009 | |
| mw | ||
| Fun and Games | Sep 22, 2009 | |
| phylisfjohnson | ||
| Epilepsy and Memory Loss?? | Sep 17, 2009 | |
| lindseygthatsme | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| WHY??????????????????????? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| marymm | ||
| Ugg Bailey Button Boots–Your Winter Footwear | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| lovetiffany | ||
| Ceremony to welcome President Hu Jintao to the country, accompanied by up to 200 people Barack Obama Barack Obama | Nov 19, 2009 | |
| nicky001 | ||
| Ten best sale cell phones(one) in Otc:A2688 TV cell phone | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| agoodseller | ||
| new roads to travel | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| Marsha Cash | ||
| febrile seizures | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| febrileseizures | ||
| 6 months post brain surgery | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| robin4902 | ||
| James Rowell | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| jamesrowell | ||
| Police Officer with Epilepsy | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| Rob Jamieson | ||
| So Wonderful of Using a Video Baby Monitor | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| buyairshoe | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,277 | |
| kroiz | ||
| (TLE) seizures, most misunderstood condition | 867 | |
| wenko | ||
| my story | 469 | |
| snoby | ||
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 439 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 418 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 394 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 379 | |
| javaman | ||
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 334 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Life......... | 329 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| Crystal's story | 326 | |
| Crystal11 | ||
| View all Stories | ||
