The FDA announced that there is an ongoing shortage of both brand and generic forms of diazepam rectal gel. This medication is used for rescue therapy in people with epilepsy, including children. We strongly encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider about your/your child’s options for rescue therapy, since new FDA-approved rescue therapy products have entered the market.

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 a specific way of delivering the correct amount of the medicine.

Diastat has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by family members and non-medical caregivers. Prescribed by a health care provider, it can help people with refractory epilepsy (2 years of age and older) who regularly use other seizure medicines, yet also require “as needed” diazepam to control bouts of increased seizures.

While some people may be able to give it to themselves, it is easiest to have someone else do it. Usually a parent, caregiver, or designated adult will give this to a child.

Anyone who will be giving Diastat should be taught how to use it properly by a doctor or nurse.

The following steps outline how to give Diastat® AcuDial™. Make sure to review these instructions with the prescribing health care professional and follow the package insert guidelines that come in the Diastat package.

Diastat is absorbed quickly from the rectum. Seizures may stop within 15 minutes of giving the medicine, but it will continue to work for much longer. The Diastat reaches a peak level in the bloodstream in about 1.5 hours but can last almost 2 days.

After a person has a cluster of seizures and is given Diastat, give the person a place to rest if possible and watch how they are doing for a period of time.

Authored By:Matthew Hoerth MDPatty Osborne Shafer RN, MN

Reviewed By:Elaine Wirrell MD

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