What is this medication for?
Diazepam belongs to the class of medications called benzodiazepines. Diazepam rectal gel is used for the intermittent treatment of severe seizures
that occur for certain people even though they take regular doses of medications
to treat epilepsy. It works by slowing down the nerves in the brain (i.e., the
central nervous system). Diazepam rectal gel usually starts controlling seizures
5 to 15 minutes after it is used.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you are not sure why you are using this medication, speak to
your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to use this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
Diastat Acudial® is available as:
- gel (rectal)
- 10 mg per 2 mL (5 mg/mL)
- 20 mg per 4 mL (5 mg/mL)
Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.
How should I use this medication?
The dose of diazepam rectal gel is individualized according to weight and
age. For children 2 to 5 years of age, the dose is 0.5 mg per kg
of body weight. For children 6 to 11 years of age, the dose is 0.3 mg per kg.
For ages 12 and over, the recommended dose is 0.2 mg per kg.
Since
the dose of diazepam rectal gel is available in fixed unit doses of 5 mg,
10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg only, the prescribed dose is obtained
by rounding up to the next available dose. For seniors, it is recommended
that the dosage be rounded down.
If a single dose does not adequately treat the seizure, your doctor may wish to prescribe 2 doses of diazepam rectal gel. The second dose may be given 4 to 12 hours after the first dose if seizures continue or are known to recur, or if the patient is
known to have seizures that are especially resistant to treatment. Treatment with diazepam rectal gel should be given no more than every 5 days, and no more than 5 times per month.
Diazepam rectal gel should only be administered by caregivers who in the opinion of the prescribing doctor:
- are able to distinguish the distinct cluster of seizures (and/or the events presumed to precede their onset) from the patient's ordinary seizure activity,
- have been instructed and judged to be competent to administer the treatment rectally,
- understand explicitly which seizure manifestations may or may not be treated with diazepam rectal gel, and
- are able to monitor the clinical response and recognize when that response is such that immediate professional medical evaluation is required.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are
using the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is important to use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Use the pre-loaded diazepam rectal gel syringe exactly as prescribed by your
doctor and according to package directions. Store the syringe out of the reach of children.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Do not use this medication if you:
- are allergic to diazepam, any other benzodiazepines, or any ingredients of this medication
- have acute narrow-angle glaucoma