Support Statement

Supported by educational grants from UCB, Inc., and Neurelis, Inc.

Learning Objective

After completing this educational activity, you should be able to:

• Educate patients who are at risk for seizure clusters about rescue medications and emergency plans
• Provide rescue treatment for seizure clusters that patients and their caregivers will use

Release, Review, and Expiration Dates

This CME activity was published in October 2021 and is eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through October 31, 2023. The latest review of this material was October 2021.

Statement of Need and Purpose

Seizure clusters take a toll on patients’ emotional well-being, work, and quality of life and are associated with increased utilization of emergency departments. However, rescue treatment options have been limited; intravenous, intramuscular, and rectal options are impractical and often rejected by patients. With the advent of nasal spray formulations of seizure rescue treatment and potentially a buccal film, clinicians can offer an option that is easily used. Additionally, clinicians have often not documented providing any rescue treatment, and when emergency plans were recommended, patients have often not followed clinicians’ recommendations. Clinicians would therefore benefit from education about identifying patients at risk for seizure clusters, educating them about rescue medication, and making formal action plans with patients and their families. This activity was designed to meet the needs of participants in CME activities provided by the CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., who have requested information on epilepsy.

Disclosure of Off-Label Usage

Dr Detyniecki has determined that, to the best of his knowledge, buccal midazolam, diazepam buccal soluble film, intrapulmonary alprazolam, and diazepam autoinjector are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of seizure clusters.

Review Process

The faculty members agreed to provide a balanced and evidence-based presentation and discussed the topics and CME objectives during the planning sessions. The faculty’s submitted content was validated by CME Institute staff, and the activity was evaluated for accuracy, use of evidence, and fair balance by the Chair and a peer reviewer who is without conflict of interest.

Acknowledgment

This activity is derived from the teleconference series “Today's Options in Epileptic Seizure Rescue Treatment,” which was held in April and August 2021 and supported by an educational grant from UCB, Inc., and Neurelis, Inc. The opinions expressed herein are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CME provider and publisher or the commercial supporter.