Diazepam Gel, Rectal

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiseizure; benzodiazepine

Generic and brand names: diazepam gel, rectal; Diastat; Diastat Acudial

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a gel that is used in the rectum to control clusters of epileptic seizures. The rectal gel helps people who cannot swallow pills after seizures. This medicine is available in child and adult sizes.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• breathing problems or lung disease such as asthma, pneumonia, or COPD
• depression
• glaucoma
• kidney disease
• liver disease

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine because it may harm the baby. If you become pregnant while using this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

You cannot use this medicine to treat yourself. A caregiver must give the medicine. The caregiver must be able to tell the difference between a cluster seizure and an ordinary one. Read the information sheet that comes in the medicine package. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand. If the caregiver does not feel comfortable deciding when to give the medicine, he or she should contact your healthcare provider.

The caregiver must stay with you for 4 hours after the treatment. Someone needs to:

• Check for changes in your breathing or skin color.
• Watch for any side effects that need to be reported to your healthcare provider.
• Make sure the cluster seizure has stopped.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe a second dose to be given 4 to 12 hours after the first dose.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, trouble breathing, coma.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine should not be used for more than one episode every 5 days or for more than 5 episodes per month.

This medicine will cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are fully alert. Also, drinking alcohol will make you drowsier. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects such as drowsiness and depression. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Carry some form of ID stating that you have seizures and are taking this medicine. If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Continued seizures, very slow breathing, long periods of drowsiness.

Other: Dizziness, headache, pain, nervousness, diarrhea, trouble breathing, runny or stuffy nose, rash, lack of coordination, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, nightmares.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote)
• bronchodilators such as aminophylline (Phyllocontin, Truphylline), dyphylline (Dilor, Lufyllin, Dilor-400), oxtriphylline (Choledyl SA), and theophylline
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• dexamethasone
• imipramine (Tofranil, Presamine)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines to treat infections such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), meperidine (Demerol), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
• natural remedies such as St. John's wort, kava, valerian, and gotu kola
• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• paclitaxel (Taxol)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), perphenazine, promazine (Sparine), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• propranolol (Inderal)
• quinidine

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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