Valium Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Valium, including details on diazepam, depression, side-effects, withdrawal.

Rectal diazepam gel in the home management of seizures in children.

O'Dell C, Shinnar S, Ballaban-Gil KR, Hornick M, Sigalova M, Kang H, Moshé SL

Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467, USA.

This study assessed the utility of rectal diazepam gel in the home management of prolonged or repetitive seizures in children. Thirty-eight children being prescribed rectal diazepam gel by their clinician were prospectively recruited. Seizures, rectal diazepam use, emergency department visits, and quality of life data before and after study entry were recorded. The 38 children included 14 (37%) with complex febrile seizures, and 24 with epilepsy (n = 22) or a single seizure (n = 2). There were 23 (61%) children with prolonged seizures and 15 (39%) with repetitive seizures. During the 6-month follow-up period, 12 children experienced 26 seizures which met the criteria for rectal diazepam administration. Rectal diazepam gel was administered to 8 children on 19 occasions. In 16 (84%) of these episodes, seizures stopped and no emergency department visit was required. Parental stress was decreased between baseline and 6 months in both the overall group and in all the subgroups. Home use of rectal diazepam gel is effective in aborting seizure activity, often avoiding an emergency department visit. Its use reduces morbidity and costs associated with hospital visits and provides parents a treatment option for home management of prolonged or repetitive seizures.

Published 5 September 2005 in Pediatr Neurol, 33(3): 166-72.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Valium Research Today. All Rights Reserved.