I questioned myself yesterday. I have been a nurse for 8 years. First year of school nursing.
I was called down to md lunchroom to bring this students Diastat. Little history of this student she is nonverbal- autistic, CP. she functions like probably a 1 year old.
She has a history of complex partial seizures where she will cross her legs, breathe heavy, and stare off. This is changed since she is now off lamictal and on depakote. Her seizures have change to atonic seizure where all of a sudden she will stiff up and head will drop or Loose balance and fall.
Mother doesn’t seem concerned she let the doctor now and he is doing bloodwork on her to check her depakote level.
When I was called down to the lunchroom to bring her Diastat they said she had a 2 mins seizure approx of head drop then lethargic. No convulsions.
She has an order for Diastat if the “seizure” last longer than 5 minutes.
My question- Diastat is a smooth muscle relaxer for more of a severe tonic clonic seizure, correct? It’s used to stop and relax the muscles. Why would I give it to her In the lunchroom for that type of seizure?
Educated me more on Diastat and what seizures require it!
Baboosh123
27 Posts
Yes, this is why it is ordered for any seizure activity. It works directly at the GABA receptors to stop the seizure.