Recent articles discuss the possibility of delivering an antiepileptic drug quickly by nasal spray. Such a delivery method would provide something for people to do as they felt a seizure coming on or if they were in the midst of a cluster of seizures. One article by Wermeling in Neurotherpeutics, April, 2009, volume 6, page 352 discusses the potential for using clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or midazolam (Versed) nasal spray to stop seizures. A second article by de Haan and colleagues in Epilepsia March, 2010, volume 51, page 478 compares midazolam (Versed) nasal spray to diazepam (Diastat) rectal solution. Effectiveness and side effects were similar in 21 adult patients having 128 flare-ups of their seizures. The majority of patients preferred the nasal spray in terms of convenience of use.

Although nasal spray of antiepileptic medications seems to be an obvious good idea, it has not been put into practice because of the relatively small absorption area of the nasal passages. Nevertheless, several companies are trying to develop this therapy. Jazz Pharmaceuticals is performing a trial of intranasal clonazepam. Upsher-Smith laboratories recently announced an agreement with Ikano Therapeutics to test their nasal midazolam (Versed). The Epilepsy Therapy Project played a matchmaking role in this process. Many in the epilepsy community await with interest the possibility of spraying antiepileptic drug in the nose to stop acute repetitive seizures.