Intranasal Midazolam Versus Rectal Diazepam for Treatment of Seizures

Condition(s) targeted: Seizures

Intervention: Midazolam (Drug); Diazepam (Drug)

Phase: Phase 2

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: University of Utah

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Maija Holsti, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University of Utah
Francis Filloux, MD, Study Chair, Affiliation: University of Utah
Jeff Schunk, MD, Study Chair, Affiliation: University of Utah

Overall contact:
Maija Holsti, MD, MPH, Phone: 801-587-7429, Email: maija.holsti@hsc.utah.edu

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial comparing the use of nasal midazolam, using a Mucosal Atomization Devise, to rectal diazepam for the treatment of acute seizure activity in children under the age of 18 years with epilepsy in the community setting. The primary hypothesis is that nasal midazolam will be more effective and have shorter seizure time compared to rectal diazepam in the community. The secondary hypotheses are that patients treated with nasal midazolam will have fewer respiratory complications, emergency department visits, and admissions.

Official title: Intranasal Midazolam Versus Rectal Diazepam for the Home Treatment of Seizure Activity in Pediatric Patients With Epilepsy

Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: Seizure times

Secondary outcome:

Respiratory depression

Repeat seizures

Additional treatment needed

Emergency department visits

Admission rates

Total hospital charges

Detailed description: Study Design: This is a prospective randomized controlled study.

Study Procedures: Parents/guardians will be provided with a stopwatch to help record seizure times on the "Parent Form". All parents of children who have a seizure lasting longer than five minutes will be randomized to treat their seizure with the study medication (either rectal diazepam or nasal midazolam). If a parent treats a child with a study medication for seizure activity they are required to call "911". Families will be instructed to only give one dose of the study medication. If the seizure persists, EMS may give a second medication and transport the patient to the ED as per their established protocol. All parents/guardians who participate in this study will be asked to fill out a "Pre-study Form" (to be filled out during enrollment into the study) and a "Parent Form" for every seizure that is treated with the study medication. They will be given a stamped returned envelope to return the questionnaire. Once the study medication is used once, they will be done with the study. Any further need of home rescue medications to treat acute seizure activity will be coordinated by their neurologist. If questions arise, a study coordinator will be available by phone. In addition, parents/guardians will be contacted by phone every two months and questioned at clinic visits to audit compliance of reporting of seizures/hospitalizations, adverse events and answer any questions that arise. The study packet also instructs all families to call the study coordinator immediately if any expected or unexpected complication occurs. The study coordinator will be called on all ED visits and hospitalizations. We will then collect and analyze adverse events to compare them between the two groups. Any ER visit or hospitalization will be considered an adverse event and will be analyzed for its relationship to the seizure or medication. All adverse events will be reported to the IRB. See Table 1 for doses for the two study medications.

Minimum age: N/A. Maximum age: 17 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Children seventeen years and under will be identified through a Pediatric Neurology

clinic at Primary Children's Medical Center.

- Known seizure disorder and

- Either have or will be prescribed a rescue anti-epileptic (rectal diazepam, or

Diastat) for home use by their neurologist.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will be excluded from the study if:

- The neurologist does not prescribe a rescue medication for home use

- 18 years of age or older

- They have absence seizures

- They have been prescribed lorazepam for home use for seizure activity

Maija Holsti, MD, MPH, Phone: 801-587-7429, Email: maija.holsti@hsc.utah.edu

Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113, United States; Recruiting
Maija Holsti, MD, MPH, Phone: 801-587-7429, Email: maija.holsti@hsc.utah.edu
Francis Filloux, MD, Phone: 801-588-3385, Email: francis.filloux@hsc.utah.edu
Maija Holsti, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator
Franics Filloux, MD, Sub-Investigator
Sean Firth, MPH, PhD, Sub-Investigator
Jeff Schunk, MD, Sub-Investigator

Related publications:

Harbord MG, Kyrkou NE, Kyrkou MR, Kay D, Coulthard KP. Use of intranasal midazolam to treat acute seizures in paediatric community settings. J Paediatr Child Health. 2004 Sep-Oct;40(9-10):556-8.

Starreveld E, Starreveld AA. Status epilepticus. Current concepts and management. Can Fam Physician. 2000 Sep;46:1817-23. Review.

Scheepers M, Scheepers B, Clarke M, Comish S, Ibitoye M. Is intranasal midazolam an effective rescue medication in adolescents and adults with severe epilepsy? Seizure. 2000 Sep;9(6):417-22.

Jeannet PY, Roulet E, Maeder-Ingvar M, Gehri M, Jutzi A, Deonna T. Home and hospital treatment of acute seizures in children with nasal midazolam. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 1999;3(2):73-7.

[No authors listed] Treatment of convulsive status epilepticus. Recommendations of the Epilepsy Foundation of America's Working Group on Status Epilepticus. JAMA. 1993 Aug 18;270(7):854-9. Review.

Chamberlain JM, Altieri MA, Futterman C, Young GM, Ochsenschlager DW, Waisman Y. A prospective, randomized study comparing intramuscular midazolam with intravenous diazepam for the treatment of seizures in children. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1997 Apr;13(2):92-4.

Fisgin T, Gurer Y, Senbil N, Tezic T, Zorlu P, Okuyaz C, Akgun D. Nasal midazolam effects on childhood acute seizures. J Child Neurol. 2000 Dec;15(12):833-5.

Fisgin T, Gurer Y, Tezic T, Senbil N, Zorlu P, Okuyaz C, Akgun D. Effects of intranasal midazolam and rectal diazepam on acute convulsions in children: prospective randomized study. J Child Neurol. 2002 Feb;17(2):123-6.

Kutlu NO, Yakinci C, Dogrul M, Durmaz Y. Intranasal midazolam for prolonged convulsive seizures. Brain Dev. 2000 Sep;22(6):359-61.

Lahat E, Goldman M, Barr J, Bistritzer T, Berkovitch M. Comparison of intranasal midazolam with intravenous diazepam for treating febrile seizures in children: prospective randomised study. BMJ. 2000 Jul 8;321(7253):83-6.

Lahat E, Goldman M, Barr J, Bistritzer T, Berkovitch M. Intranasal midazolam as a treatment of autonomic crisis in patients with familial dysautonomia. Pediatr Neurol. 2000 Jan;22(1):19-22.

Lahat E, Goldman M, Barr J, Eshel G, Berkovitch M. Intranasal midazolam for childhood seizures. Lancet. 1998 Aug 22;352(9128):620. No abstract available.

Lahat E. A prospective, randomized study comparing intramuscular midazolam with intravenous diazepam for the treatment of seizures in children. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1997 Dec;13(6):449. No abstract available.

McGlone R, Smith M. Intranasal midazolam. An alternative in childhood seizures. Emerg Med J. 2001 May;18(3):234. No abstract available.

Rainbow J, Browne GJ, Lam LT. Controlling seizures in the prehospital setting: diazepam or midazolam? J Paediatr Child Health. 2002 Dec;38(6):582-6.

Scott RC, Besag FM, Neville BG. Buccal midazolam and rectal diazepam for treatment of prolonged seizures in childhood and adolescence: a randomised trial. Lancet. 1999 Feb 20;353(9153):623-6.

Wallace SJ. Nasal benzodiazepines for management of acute childhood seizures? Lancet. 1997 Jan 25;349(9047):222. No abstract available.

Wroblewski BA, Joseph AB. The use of intramuscular midazolam for acute seizure cessation or behavioral emergencies in patients with traumatic brain injury. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1992 Feb;15(1):44-9.

Pellock JM. Status epilepticus in children: update and review. J Child Neurol. 1994 Oct;9 Suppl 2:27-35. Review.

Verity CM. Do seizures damage the brain? The epidemiological evidence. Arch Dis Child. 1998 Jan;78(1):78-84. Review. No abstract available.

Alldredge BK, Wall DB, Ferriero DM. Effect of prehospital treatment on the outcome of status epilepticus in children. Pediatr Neurol. 1995 Apr;12(3):213-6.

Knoester PD, Jonker DM, Van Der Hoeven RT, Vermeij TA, Edelbroek PM, Brekelmans GJ, de Haan GJ. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of midazolam administered as a concentrated intranasal spray. A study in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 May;53(5):501-7.

Mahmoudian T, Zadeh MM. Comparison of intranasal midazolam with intravenous diazepam for treating acute seizures in children. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Apr;5(2):253-5.

Vilke GM, Sharieff GQ, Marino A, Gerhart AE, Chan TC. Midazolam for the treatment of out-of-hospital pediatric seizures. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2002 Apr-Jun;6(2):215-7.

Starting date: June 2006
Ending date: December 2009
Last updated: October 20, 2008