Directions for Administration of
DIASTAT Rectal Valium Gel
Put person on their side
Get medicine.
where they can't fall.
Get syringe.
Push up with thumb and pull to
Note: Seal Pin is
remove cap from syringe.
attached to the cap.
Be sure Seal Pin is
removed with the cap.
Lubricate rectal tip
Turn person on side facing you.
with lubricating jelly.
Bend upper leg forward
Separate buttocks to
to expose rectum.
expose rectum.
Gently insert syringe
tip into rectum.
Note: Rim should be snug
against rectal opening.
What is epilepsy? What is a seizure?
Epilepsy is defined as a chronic neurological condition where the individual is susceptible to several seizures.
A seizure is a sudden, temporary, interruption of the normal electrical/chemical activity in the brain, resulting in a
change in sensation, awareness or behavior. A seizure can range from a brief disruption of senses, brief stares,
muscle spasms, or odd sensations, to short periods of unconsciousness, to convulsions. Some people have just
one type of seizure; others are susceptible to more than one.
SEIZURE TYPES
Epilepsy is a complex condition and there are many types of seizures:

Partial Seizures
Partial seizures are seizures that occur in just one area of the brain. There are two main classifications for
partial seizures:



Simple Partial Seizures are associated with no impairment of consciousness
Complex Partial Seizures are associated with some impairment of consciousness
Generalized Seizures
Generalized seizures affect a wide area of the brain. There are several types of generalized seizures:

Tonic-clonic Seizures are generally associated with epilepsy. During a tonic-clonic
seizure, the muscles contract and relax and the sufferer may fall down, become unconscious, and
perhaps stop breathing.

Absence Seizures are characterized by brief spells of unconsciousness lasting a few
seconds. The eyes may stare blankly and twitching of the fingers or mouth may occur.

Atonic Seizures are characterized by a sudden loss of muscle strength during which the
eyelids may droop, the head may nod, or a person may drop objects and/or fall to the ground.

Myoclonic Seizures are characterized by brief, shock-like jerks of muscle groups.
Persons with or without epilepsy may experience a myoclonic seizure.

Acute Seizures
An acute seizure is defined as a bout of seizures or cluster of seizures, each lasting a short period of time.
In between seizures, the patient regains consciousness.

Breakthrough Seizures
A breakthrough seizure is defined as a bout of seizure activity experienced by a patient with epilepsy, on
a stable regimen of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), who suffers intermittent and periodic episodes of
markedly increased seizure activity, sometimes heralded by nonconvulsive symptoms. Although the
cluster of seizures may differ among patients, for any individual patient, the clusters of seizure activity is
stereotypic and distinguishable from the other seizures suffered from that patient.
Causes of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is not a mental disorder. Epilepsy can be caused by anything that affects the brain, such as a stroke,
brain trauma, a brain tumor, degenerative disease (such as Alzheimer’s), or an infection (such as meningitis or
encephalitis). Epilepsy can be genetically inherited. Sometimes, there is no cause at all.
Cause of Seizures
There are many different conditions that can cause seizures and seizure-like episodes.

Isolated seizures, for example, can be caused by almost any condition which affects the brain,
such as drug intoxication or withdrawal, renal failure, or a major disturbance in electrolytes or in glucose.

Other things that have been identified as causes of seizures may include: head injury, lack of
oxygen to the brain during birth, and lead poisoning.
Treatment
Currently there is no known cure for epilepsy. However, antiepileptic drugs can help to control seizures in most
people. These drugs do not actually "fix" the problems that cause seizures; they work by suppressing seizures.
Before choosing an antiepileptic drug, it's important to do these two things: receive an accurate diagnosis of
epilepsy and have an open discussion with your doctor about the pros and cons of the different drugs available.
What is a seizure emergency?
A seizure emergency is defined as:
• A prolonged seizure, or
• A continuous state of seizure, or
• Frequently occurring seizures.
There are two types of seizure emergencies:

Status Epilepticus (SE) is a prolonged seizure lasting a long time – some researchers consider a
“long time” to be 10 minutes; others say it is longer than 30 minutes.

SE is also diagnosed, not only by time, but by a series of repeated seizures without the
return of consciousness between seizures.



SE is a medical emergency.
Early intervention can decrease morbidity and mortality.
Acute Repetitive Seizure is defined as a bout of seizures or cluster of seizures, each lasting a
short period of time. In between seizures, the patient regains consciousness.