Rapid arrest of seizures with an inhalation aerosol containing diazepam.
Diazepam (DZP) and a mixture of Chinese herbs customarily used to treat epilepsy were prepared as an aerosol under the trade name Aerosolum Diaiepami Compositae or Flvalscop (FVS). FVS was studied in a single-blind trial in 101 patients with seizures preceded by an aura and in 19 without an aura to whom was administered by another person. FVS or a control preparation was administered. In 16-22 s, (average 18.5 s), the aura was interrupted and no seizure ensued in 90% of the cases treated with FVS and in 26% of cases treated with the control preparation. Of the 120 patients, 8 had elementary partial seizures with Jacksonian march, 18 had complex partial seizures (CPS), 7 had simple partial seizures with autonomic symptoms, and 87 had secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Eleven patients have now received FVS for 2 years (400 ml each). Forty patients for 1 year (150-200 ml each); none of these patients have shown any side effects or abnormal laboratory findings. An aerosol-administered drug may be a valuable adjunct to the antiepileptic drug (AED) arsenal and merits more extensive evaluation.
Xi
L Y
LY
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Shanxi Medical College, Taiyuan, Peoples Republic of China.
Zheng
W M
WM
Zhen
S M
SM
Xian
N S
NS
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000336:Aerosols; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D003975:Diazepam