Study backs use of autoinjectors in stopping seizures Read more here: http://ww

[Guest guest]

I don't think I want Versed autoinjectors, but this study does help clarify best

treatment options for status. I'll post the reference when I get it.

Doc P

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/08/2143680/study-backs-use-of-autoinjectors.html

New National Institutes of Health-sponsored research by the University of

Kentucky and other institutions indicates that intramuscular injection of

medication allows paramedics to stop life-threatening seizures faster than

traditional intravenous (IV) treatment.

Status epilepticus — or people having a seizure that won't stop — is a

life-threatening emergency that results in approximately 55,000 deaths in the

U.S. each year. When paramedics and doctors treat these seizures, the standard

treatment is to use IV medications. However, it is very difficult to start an IV

when someone is having a seizure.

Intramuscular injection using an auto injector pen (similar to an epi-pen used

to treat allergic reactions), has now been demonstrated to be an effective way

of stopping seizures faster.

Any seizure a patient suffers is a serious medical situation, but seizures that

continue more than five minutes are particularly dangerous.

Investigators at UK and other institutions compared two medicines known to be

effective in controlling seizures, midazolam and lorazepam. The trial started in

2009 and completed enrollment in June 2011. It involved more than 79 hospitals,

33 emergency medical services agencies, more than 4,000 paramedics and 893

patients ranging in age from several months old to 103.

Both medicines are benzodiazepines, a class of sedating, anticonvulsant drugs.

Midazolam was a candidate for injection because it is rapidly absorbed from

muscle. Lorazepam must be given by IV. The study found that 73 percent of

patients in the group receiving midazolam via autoinjector were seizure-free

upon arrival at the hospital, compared to 63 percent of patients who received IV

treatment with lorazepam.

Patients treated with midazolam were also less likely to require hospitalization

than those receiving IV lorazepam. Among those admitted, both groups had

similarly low rates of recurrent seizures.

Patients with status epilepticus can suffer severe consequences if seizures are

not stopped quickly. This study established that rapid intramuscular injection

of an anticonvulsant drug is safe and effective.

Because of the nature of the approval process for new drugs, the autoinjector

treatment is not currently available. But in the future, it may become the

standard treatment for prolonged seizures.

While autoinjectors might someday be available for use by epilepsy patients and

their family members, more research is required. Because of the strong sedative

effect of midazolam, medical supervision is now required for the safety of the

patient.

Read more here:

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/08/2143680/study-backs-use-of-autoinjectors.html\

#storylink=cpy

[Guest guest]

For the same reason we need epi pens in every ambulance for a rare condition -

to make money for a drug company :-)

I think one thought is for family to be able to administer at home.

Don

>

> Most paramedics are quite capable of drawing up and giving benzos IM. I don't

know why we would need auto-injectors.

>

>

> GG

>

>

>

> Study backs use of autoinjectors in stopping seizures

Read more here: http://ww

>

>

>

>

>

> I don't think I want Versed autoinjectors, but this study does help clarify

best treatment options for status. I'll post the reference when I get it.

>

> Doc P

>

>

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/08/2143680/study-backs-use-of-autoinjectors.html

>

> New National Institutes of Health-sponsored research by the University of

Kentucky and other institutions indicates that intramuscular injection of

medication allows paramedics to stop life-threatening seizures faster than

traditional intravenous (IV) treatment.

>

> Status epilepticus — or people having a seizure that won't stop — is a

life-threatening emergency that results in approximately 55,000 deaths in the

U.S. each year. When paramedics and doctors treat these seizures, the standard

treatment is to use IV medications. However, it is very difficult to start an IV

when someone is having a seizure.

>

> Intramuscular injection using an auto injector pen (similar to an epi-pen used

to treat allergic reactions), has now been demonstrated to be an effective way

of stopping seizures faster.

>

> Any seizure a patient suffers is a serious medical situation, but seizures

that continue more than five minutes are particularly dangerous.

>

> Investigators at UK and other institutions compared two medicines known to be

effective in controlling seizures, midazolam and lorazepam. The trial started in

2009 and completed enrollment in June 2011. It involved more than 79 hospitals,

33 emergency medical services agencies, more than 4,000 paramedics and 893

patients ranging in age from several months old to 103.

>

> Both medicines are benzodiazepines, a class of sedating, anticonvulsant drugs.

Midazolam was a candidate for injection because it is rapidly absorbed from

muscle. Lorazepam must be given by IV. The study found that 73 percent of

patients in the group receiving midazolam via autoinjector were seizure-free

upon arrival at the hospital, compared to 63 percent of patients who received IV

treatment with lorazepam.

>

> Patients treated with midazolam were also less likely to require

hospitalization than those receiving IV lorazepam. Among those admitted, both

groups had similarly low rates of recurrent seizures.

>

> Patients with status epilepticus can suffer severe consequences if seizures

are not stopped quickly. This study established that rapid intramuscular

injection of an anticonvulsant drug is safe and effective.

>

> Because of the nature of the approval process for new drugs, the autoinjector

treatment is not currently available. But in the future, it may become the

standard treatment for prolonged seizures.

>

> While autoinjectors might someday be available for use by epilepsy patients

and their family members, more research is required. Because of the strong

sedative effect of midazolam, medical supervision is now required for the safety

of the patient.

>

> Read more here:

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/08/2143680/study-backs-use-of-autoinjectors.html\

#storylink=cpy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for the

VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

 

Ernie Statuto

Foard County Fire Marshal

EMS/Fire Instructor

Crowell, Texas

[Guest guest]

Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for the

VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

 

Ernie Statuto

Foard County Fire Marshal

EMS/Fire Instructor

Crowell, Texas

[Guest guest]

I don't see much use in the auto injector aside from use by parents or other

layperson caregivers.

But if they could come out with a Versed dart gun, it would sure make my job

easier.

Grayson

> Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for

the VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>

>

> Ernie Statuto

> Foard County Fire Marshal

> EMS/Fire Instructor

> Crowell, Texas

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't see much use in the auto injector aside from use by parents or other

layperson caregivers.

But if they could come out with a Versed dart gun, it would sure make my job

easier.

Grayson

> Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for

the VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>

>

> Ernie Statuto

> Foard County Fire Marshal

> EMS/Fire Instructor

> Crowell, Texas

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey that's how it works with the " good " insulin lime Language and Levimir. Pens

are more than vials.

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI Training Program Manager , Fire &

Safety Specialists, Inc. (Office) (Office FAX)

(Cell) Sent from my Samsung Captivate on AT&T. Please forgive

any typos.

Ernie Statuto pastorerniestatuto@...> wrote:

>Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for the

VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>

> 

>Ernie Statuto

>Foard County Fire Marshal

>EMS/Fire Instructor

>Crowell, Texas

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey that's how it works with the " good " insulin lime Language and Levimir. Pens

are more than vials.

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI Training Program Manager , Fire &

Safety Specialists, Inc. (Office) (Office FAX)

(Cell) Sent from my Samsung Captivate on AT&T. Please forgive

any typos.

Ernie Statuto pastorerniestatuto@...> wrote:

>Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for the

VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>

> 

>Ernie Statuto

>Foard County Fire Marshal

>EMS/Fire Instructor

>Crowell, Texas

>

>

[Guest guest]

PATIENT or PARTNER?

Louis N. Molino, Sr. CET FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI Training Program Manager , Fire &

Safety Specialists, Inc. (Office) (Office FAX)

(Cell) Sent from my Samsung Captivate on AT&T. Please forgive

any typos.

Alyssa Woods amwoods8644@...> wrote:

>I think we can all identify at least one patient where we would've loved to

have a Ketamine dart handy.

>

>

>Alyssa Woods, EMT

>

>

>

>

>

>

>> That and ketamine darts would be great! Police would love those too.

>>

>>

>> >

>> > > Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money

for the VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>> > >

>> > >

>> > > Ernie Statuto

>> > > Foard County Fire Marshal

>> > > EMS/Fire Instructor

>> > > Crowell, Texas

>> > >

>> > >

[Guest guest]

Hey, we got the fentanyl lollipop, so maybe there's hope for the versed dart.

Austin

> I don't see much use in the auto injector aside from use by parents or other

layperson caregivers.

>

> But if they could come out with a Versed dart gun, it would sure make my job

easier.

>

> Grayson

>

> On Apr 10, 2012, at 5:11 PM, Ernie Statuto pastorerniestatuto@...>

wrote:

>

> > Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for

the VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

> >

> >

> > Ernie Statuto

> > Foard County Fire Marshal

> > EMS/Fire Instructor

> > Crowell, Texas

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

With the added bonus that we might actually use a versed dart.

- Alyssa Woods

>

> Hey, we got the fentanyl lollipop, so maybe there's hope for the versed dart.

>

> Austin

>

>

>

>> I don't see much use in the auto injector aside from use by parents or other

layperson caregivers.

>>

>> But if they could come out with a Versed dart gun, it would sure make my job

easier.

>>

>> Grayson

>>

>> On Apr 10, 2012, at 5:11 PM, Ernie Statuto pastorerniestatuto@...>

wrote:

>>

>>> Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for

the VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>>>

>>>

>>> Ernie Statuto

>>> Foard County Fire Marshal

>>> EMS/Fire Instructor

>>> Crowell, Texas

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

With the added bonus that we might actually use a versed dart.

- Alyssa Woods

>

> Hey, we got the fentanyl lollipop, so maybe there's hope for the versed dart.

>

> Austin

>

>

>

>> I don't see much use in the auto injector aside from use by parents or other

layperson caregivers.

>>

>> But if they could come out with a Versed dart gun, it would sure make my job

easier.

>>

>> Grayson

>>

>> On Apr 10, 2012, at 5:11 PM, Ernie Statuto pastorerniestatuto@...>

wrote:

>>

>>> Maybe we could get versed if the drug companies could charge more money for

the VERSED PEN? What an Idea!!!!!!!!

>>>

>>>

>>> Ernie Statuto

>>> Foard County Fire Marshal

>>> EMS/Fire Instructor

>>> Crowell, Texas

>>>

>>>