RAPID ARREST OF SEIZURES WITH AN INHALATION AEROSOL CONTAINING DIAZEPAM

Diazepam (DZP) and a mixture of Chinese herbs customarily used to trea t epilepsy were prepared as an aerosol under the trade name Aerosolum Diaiepami Compositae or Flvalscop (FVS). FVS was studied in a single-b lind 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 a), th e aura was interrupted and no seizure ensued in 90% of the cases treat ed 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 se izures with autonomic symptoms, and 87 had secondarily generalized ton ic-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 th ese patients have shown any side effects or abnormal laboratory findin gs. An aerosol-administered drug may be a valuable adjunct to the anti epileptic drug (AED) arsenal and merits more extensive evaluation.