First Aid for Seizures

Even when a patient is on a regular antiepileptic medication, breakthrough seizures can occur. It is critical to intervene to reduce long-term health risks.

First aid steps for seizures include:

Identifying the Signs of a Possible Seizure

Basic Seizure First Aid

Administration of DIASTAT® AcuDial™ (diazepam rectal gel), if prescribed

Emergency Medical Assistance, if needed


Identifying the Signs of a Possible Seizure

The following are the most common signs of possible seizure activity:
  • Brief staring spells (5-10 seconds)
  • Periods of confusion
  • Head dropping
  • Sudden loss of muscle tone
  • Episodes of rapid blinking, or of the eyes rolling upwards
  • Inappropriate movements of the mouth or face, accompanied by a blank expression
  • Aimless, dazed behavior, including walking or repetitive movements that seem inappropriate to the environment
  • Involuntary jerking of an arm or leg
  • Not all of these signs occur every time or with every seizure
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Basic Seizure First Aid

If you think someone is having a seizure, the following basic first aid is helpful:
  • Stay calm
  • Ease person to floor
  • Loosen any neckwear
  • Cushion head
  • Do not restrain or hold the person down
  • Do not put anything in the person's mouth
  • Clear immediate area of any furniture or other objects that may cause injury
  • If person turns blue, stops breathing, or begins to vomit, immediately roll the person onto his or her side.
  • When seizure subsides, roll person onto his or her side.
  • When person regains consciousness, talk gently and stay with him or her until well enough to return to usual activities.
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Administration of DIASTAT AcuDial, if prescribed
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Emergency Medical Assistance, if necessary

Although most seizures end naturally without emergency treatment, a seizure in someone who does not have epilepsy could be a sign of serious illness. Call for medical assistance if:
  • Seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
  • No "epilepsy/seizure disorder" I.D.
  • Slow recovery, a second seizure, or difficult breathing afterwards.
  • Pregnancy or other medical I.D.
  • Any signs of injury.
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Remember to stock DIASTAT AcuDial in various locations for your safety and emergency access. Places to consider include: your home's first aid kit, at your child's school, at your office or place of work, in your car, at the home of a caregiver, or in any vacation baggage.

Creating a Seizure Preparedness Plan and talking to your healthcare professional about DIASTAT AcuDial can provide peace of mind to help patients with epilepsy live life more fully.

DIASTAT AcuDial is a rescue medication for breakthrough seizures for adults and for children over the age of 2 and should not replace current antiepileptic medications.

Please note: If DIASTAT AcuDial is prescribed, the caregiver administering it must speak with the doctor, and the doctor needs to ensure that the caregiver:
  • Can tell the difference between a distinct cluster of seizures from the patient's ordinary seizure activity.
  • Has been instructed and judged to be competent to administer the treatment rectally.
  • Knows the exact conditions that indicate when to treat with DIASTAT AcuDial and which seizures may or may not be treated with DIASTAT AcuDial.
  • Knows how and for how long to check the person after giving DIASTAT AcuDial.
  • Can monitor the clinical response and recognize when the response indicates that immediate professional medical evaluation is necessary.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

DIASTAT® AcuDial™ (diazepam rectal gel) is a gel formulation of diazepam intended for rectal administration in the management of selected, refractory patients with epilepsy, on stable regimens of AEDs, who require intermittent use of diazepam to control bouts of increased seizure activity for patients 2 years and older.

In clinical trials with DIASTAT®, the most frequent side effect was somnolence (23%). Less frequent adverse events reported were dizziness, headache, pain, vasodilation, diarrhea, ataxia, euphoria, incoordination, asthma, rash, abdominal pain, nervousness and rhinitis (1%-5%). Please see full DIASTAT AcuDial Prescribing Information.