Epilepsy Talk
In case of emergency — new solutions | January 24, 2023
Here are some methods to stop a seizure in its tracks. Or shorten one.
And help relieve you of the dreaded after-effects.
Possibilities you might not have known about…especially the new nasal sprays.
Recently some children have been using Ativan or Klonpin tablets or wafers, placed under the tongue for rescue from seizure activity — which is an excellent way to go.
Then there’s Diastat. Traditionally, it’s been the first line of fire in rescue meds for extreme seizures.
It’s available in a gel form that is inserted into the patient’s rectum to stop a cluster of repeated seizures. (It’s absorbed more quickly that way.)
However children, adults and caretakers aren’t too keen about it, and you can understand why.
Now, it’s been made available in a liquid oral form that comes in a syringe and goes right into the cheek of the mouth.
Also, Versed (Midazolam), Ativan and Valtoco (Diazepam), have been approved as antiepileptic nasal sprays. Plus, Versed can be inserted in the side of the cheek.
The way they work is by crossing the nasal mucosa and the blood brain barrier, providing rapid relief for people as they feel a seizure coming on. Or if someone is in the midst of a cluster of seizures.
And of course, the majority of patients tested preferred the nasal spray in terms of convenience!
(Ask your neuro about them, because they’re relatively new.)
In short, you have these new options which can control seizure activity. Find out more.
Your pharmacist can be a terrific source because he/she’s worked with most of the meds and knows the up-sides and the down-sides.
And remember, once you know all your options, you may be less fearful and more in control when a seizure strikes.
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Resources:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/medications-used-for-seizure-emergencies-5100921
http://www.ice-epilepsy.org/emergency-administration-of-rescue-medications.html
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/using-autoinjectors-treat-seizures
https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-rescue-therapies
Tags: Ativan, auto-injector, convulsing, Diastat, gel, Klonopin, nasal spray, oral, seizure control, syringe, tablets, Valium, Valtoco (Diazepam), Versed (Midazolam), wafers
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Is it possible for en epileptic to have multiple seizures in the ER? Wouldn’t these meds stop them? For example, a seizure per hour for 6 hours?
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Comment by Susan Vander Veer — January 24, 2023 @ 9:43 AM
I know that in my case, I went into status, they administered a rescue drug and a few hours later, I went into status again.
I then had two heart attacks.
At that point, they put me into an induced coma.
But that’s just one individual case. I don’t have any answers about others.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 24, 2023 @ 10:26 AM
Thanks for the vital information.
Getting totally consumed & paranoid from another grand mal seizure is going to strike me everytime I feel the auras rising, I desperately need the nasal spray to ease up & dissipate my auras before I end up being confused, disoriented, unconscious, hallucinating & struggling to breath, struck with another petite seizure.
Controlling the tormenting moments before ending up struck with seizures seem to be more harder than coping with the seizures.
Gerrie
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Comment by Gerrie — January 24, 2023 @ 12:49 PM
Thank for for this information
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Comment by Amita — January 25, 2023 @ 11:06 PM
Gerrie, I’m so sorry your anti-convulsant doesn’t work. My last seizures were because the pharmacy filled my RX at half the dose the doctor ordered so always check. Thanks for the info everyone!
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Comment by Susan Vander Veer — January 26, 2023 @ 10:11 AM
I had the same thing happen to me. It’s really a serious problem.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 26, 2023 @ 10:22 AM