Using Autoinjectors to Treat Seizures

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which nerve cells in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. When the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, it can lead to convulsions and muscle spasms. Status epilepticus is a prolonged seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes. This potentially life-threatening emergency causes 55,000 deaths each year.

Anticonvulsant drugs are typically delivered intravenously (IV) as a first-line treatment for status epilepticus. But starting an IV in a patient having a seizure can be challenging and waste precious time. Giving an intramuscular shot is easier, faster and more reliable.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Silbergleit of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor sought to determine whether an intramuscular injection, which quickly delivers anticonvulsant medicine into a patient's thigh muscle, is as safe and effective as giving medicine directly into a vein. The Rapid Anticonvulsant Medication Prior to Arrival Trial (RAMPART) compared how well delivery by each method stopped patients' seizures by the time the ambulance arrived at the emergency department. The research was funded primarily by NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

The study compared 2 medications proven effective at controlling seizures, both from the benzodiazapine class of sedating anticonvulsant drugs. Lorazepam, which must be given by IV, is the current standard of care. Midazolam, which is rapidly absorbed from muscle, was delivered by injection. The trial involved more than 79 hospitals, 33 emergency medical services agencies, more than 4,000 paramedics and almost 900 patients ranging in age from several months to 103 years old.

the researchers reported that 73% of patients in the group receiving midazolam were seizure-free upon arrival at the hospital, compared to 63% who received IV treatment with lorazepam. Patients treated with midazolam were also less likely to require hospitalization than those receiving IV lorazepam. Among those admitted, both groups had similarly low rates of recurrent seizures.

Few other areas of medicine are as time-dependent as injury to the brain,” Silbergleit says. In epilepsy, even a few minutes can be important. With every minute the seizure continues, it becomes harder to stop. RAMPART offers first responders an important treatment tool that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of many people with epilepsy.


 Get The Latest By Email

Weekly Magazine Daily Inspiration

These results also have implications for public health preparedness. The trial shows that autoinjectors can provide a practical way to treat hundreds of people quickly during a widespread emergency, such as a chemical or biological attack.

Article Source:
http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/february2012/02272012seizure.htm

AVAILABLE LANGUAGES

English Afrikaans Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Danish Dutch Filipino Finnish French German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Malay Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Spanish Swahili Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese

follow InnerSelf on

facebook icontwitter iconyoutube iconinstagram iconpintrest iconrss icon

 Get The Latest By Email

Weekly Magazine Daily Inspiration

Wednesday, 28 April 2021 08:57

Replenishing antioxidants in the body may help protect against oxidative stress and lower the risk of cancer

Wednesday, 19 May 2021 08:07

For many people, the thing they’ve missed most during the pandemic is being able to hug loved ones. Indeed, it wasn’t until we lost our ability to hug friends and family did many realise just how...

Friday, 14 May 2021 08:30

Fertility has declined in most industrialised countries. While the causes are largely unknown, a number of factors may contribute to declining fertility rates, including the age...

Saturday, 08 May 2021 08:43

Humanity has always had a rocky relationship with wasps. They are one of those insects that we love to hate. We value bees (which also sting) because they pollinate our crops and make honey

Wednesday, 26 May 2021 08:54

The term “exercise is medicine” is rightfully well publicised. It’s one of the best ways to stay healthy, yet medicine doesn’t work if you aren’t prepared to take it.

Saturday, 03 April 2021 08:08

Coffee, green tea and other caffeinated drinks are a popular way to start the morning. Not only does it give many people a much-needed boost, but caffeine can also help when it comes to fitness.

New Attitudes - New Possibilities

InnerSelf.comClimateImpactNews.com | InnerPower.net
MightyNatural.com | WholisticPolitics.com | InnerSelf Market
Copyright ©1985 - 2021 InnerSelf Publications. All Rights Reserved.