Important facts

Diazepam rectal gel is commercially available under the brand name of Diastat® AcuDial™. The names Diastat and Diastat AcuDial refer to the same medicine. The AcuDial system is just a specific way of delivering the correct amount of the medicine.

• Diastat has been approved by the FDA for use by family members and non-medical caregivers in the management of selected people with refractory epilepsy (2 years of age and older) who are on stable regimens of seizure medicines and who require intermittent use of diazepam to control bouts of increased seizure activity.
• Diastat should be used with caution for people with breathing problems, elderly people, or females who are pregnant, nursing, or planning to get pregnant.
• Most commonly, Diastat is used in children or people who are not able to take oral or sublingual medicines or who find this way of giving medicine more helpful.
• The medicine comes prepackaged in special applicators or syringes that are used to give the medicine rectally. Two syringes or applicators come in each package with lubricant and instructions on how to use it.
• The doctor prescribes the dose of Diastat to use according to body weight. Ask the doctor for specific instructions on when to use it and whether a second dose of medicine can be used. Make sure your child's doctor knows about weight changes as your child grows and can adjust the dose appropriately.
• The AcuDial delivery system allows the pharmacist to set the applicators to deliver the prescribed dose. When picking up your medicine from the pharmacy, it is important to check the dose of Diastat with the pharmacist.
• Diastat does not need to be refrigerated, but it is important to store it in a safe place, away from children. Each twin pack will last up to 4 years.
• After the Diastat has been given, follow disposal instructions that come with the medicine.
• Do not reuse syringes for any reason or save partial amounts of medicine for later use.

How do you know if the proper dose of Diastat has been set?

When the prescription is picked up from the pharmacy, check to see if the prescribed dose is written in the display window on the applicator. There should also be a green band that says READY. If you don't see the dose or green band, it is not ready to use. Take it back to the pharmacist to set the dose. Also check to make sure that the syringe tip is the size that was ordered by the doctor.

Remember:

• Check to see if the prescribed dose is visible.
• Look for the green READY band.
• Don't forget to check the size of tip.
• Take the Diastat back to the pharmacist if you are not sure if it's ready to use.

• Read the package insert

Continue to Giving Diastat

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed: 5/25/07