Q&A On Seizure Preparedness Plans

Dr. Jong Rho: Associate Director of Child Neurology; Senior Staff Scientist; Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Research, Barrow Neurologic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.


Interview Questions

When you talk to your epilepsy patients/families about vacations/travel, what do you tell them?

Do you feel that patients/families should be limited in their travel (should stay close to home)? Why or why not?

What is the best way for them to be prepared away from home?

Do you recommend a rescue medication as a component of the plan? Why?

How does rescue medication help with travel?

What is most important about having a plan?

What do you think is the greatest benefit of any rescue medication?


Q. When you talk to your epilepsy patients/families about vacations/travel, what do you tell them?

Dr. Rho: I explain the risks of having a seizure while away from the people who are familiar with the patient's epilepsy — such as a family member or myself, their physician. I also discuss contingency plans and rescue medication and what to do if seizures recur or increase in frequency while traveling away from home.

Back to top


Q. Do you feel that patients/families should be limited in their travel (should stay close to home)? Why or why not?

Dr. Rho: Not necessarily. Traveling is not an absolute contraindication for patients with epilepsy. Each patient's circumstances are different and need to be considered on an individual basis. When I talk to my patients, we discuss the possible risks of traveling and what contingency plans the patient and his or her family should make.

Back to top


Q. What is the best way for them to be prepared away from home?

Dr. Rho: For my patients, I stress the importance of having a plan that is tailored to the location of travel and access to healthcare. Other important components of a plan include a rescue medication, and contact information. I like to discuss the following key components with my patients:
  1. a plan to educate specific people, such as a caregiver or a camp counselor;
  2. detailed discussions and written instructions outlining specific scenarios and how to respond to each scenario;
  3. specific verbal or written instructions on how and when to use a rescue medication.
Back to top


Q: Do you recommend a rescue medication as a component of the plan? Why?

Dr. Rho: In most instances, a rescue medication is a component of a plan. It is the easiest and most effective method of stopping seizure activity and avoiding seizure recurrence, which may allow a patient the time to seek further medical evaluation or treatment if needed.

Back to top


Q: How does rescue medication help with travel?

Dr. Rho: A rescue medication can allow for immediate intervention if needed and also provide a sense of security when traveling.

Back to top


Q. What is most important about having a plan?

Dr. Rho: I think that having a plan to respond to any type of emergency is important. When you don't have a plan, the potential exists for bad decision-making. My concern for a patient who does not have a plan and experiences a seizure is the potential risk for brain or bodily injury. A plan will ensure the best possible outcome for a patient.

Back to top


Q. What do you think is the greatest benefit of any rescue medication?

Dr. Rho: I think the greatest benefit of a rescue medication is having the security of an effective treatment option that can be administered by nearly anyone.

Back to top


Don't Miss – Also Read:
 
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.