Epilepsy Action

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First aid for seizures

Emergency care for long or repeated convulsive (tonic-clonic) seizures

Tonic-clonic seizures are often called convulsions. Mostly, these seizures stop by themselves after a short time.

However, if someone has:

  • convulsions that last five minutes or longer or
  • three or more convulsions in an hour

they may need emergency medicine. These are usually midazolam or diazepam. Midazolam is given buccally (inside the cheek or nose.) Diazepam is given rectally (in the back passage). These drugs can end long or repeated convulsions

NICE  recommends that anyone who has had long, or repeated, convulsions in the past is prescribed an emergency medicine.

If your student is prescribed emergency medicine, information about how this will be given should be written in their Individual healthcare Plan

  • Updated May 2012
    To be reviewed May 2014

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