If you have been prescribed a treatment to use when seizures last too long or in special circumstances, record what people need to know to use this properly. On your Seizure Plan, complete this section with specific instructions on what to give, how much, when to give it and any special instructions. Include these details on each ‘as needed’ medicine or intervention prescribed for you.

• Type: VNS Magnet, Diastat AcuDial, or the specific name of the prescribed ‘as needed’ medicine.
• Amount or dose: List the specific amount that should be given at one time and whether one or more doses can be given. For example, “Give 1 mg”
• When to give: List the specific reason and time to give the treatment. For example, “Give after the third seizure in one day” or “May give 1 mg if seizures continue for more than one hour."
• How to give: Write in exactly how the medicine or treatment should be given. For example, “give rectally” or “put under tongue”.
• Side effects: List the possible side effects that may be seen when the medicine is given so that other people will know what to expect. It may help to say what to do if the side effect occurs. For example, “sleepiness may occur after medicine. Let him rest for half hour “.
• Examples of how to write “As Needed” Treatments:
  • VNS Magnet – Swipe magnet over the generator for 1 second at beginning of seizure, repeat after 1 minute.
  • Diastat AcuDial – Give Diastat, 7.5 mg with 4.4 cm tip size, after second seizure in one day, give rectally – see instructions with Diastat, may be sleepy, let me rest for 30 minutes and then return to class.
  • Lorazepam - Give Lorazepam, 1 mg, after the third seizure in one day, may give another 1 mg if clusters of seizures continue, place under tongue, may be sleepy or unsteady – let me rest. Call the doctor if more than 4 seizures in one day.
  • New medications: Some medications are being developed that can be given in spray form into the nose, or as an injection into an arm or leg. If you are using any of these, fill in the necessary information to use this properly.

Continue to Knowing When to Call for Emergency Help

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Revisions: Robert Fisher, MD, and Patricia O. Shafer RN, MN

April 2010