Notification From the Epilepsy Foundation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Valtoco® (diazepam nasal spray). This is a new seizure medicine designed to treat periods of frequent seizures or cluster seizures that are distinct from the person’s usual seizure pattern. The term “rescue therapy” or “rescue medicine” is usually used to describe this type of medicine.
- Valtoco is a nasal spray that can be given easily outside of a medical setting by non-medical people.
- It is approved as an acute treatment, which means that the medicine is given at the time of the seizures or during periods of frequent seizures. It is not used as a daily seizure medicine or in place of daily seizure medicines.
- Valtoco can be used in children age 6 and over and in adults with epilepsy.
- This rescue therapy uses a new technology that allows the diazepam to be absorbed consistently through the nose.
- Valtoco (diazepam nasal spray) is a benzodiazepine, which is a group of drugs that can stop seizures quickly when used as an acute treatment.
Valtoco is only the third rescue therapy approved for epilepsy. These medicines offer a way to prevent seizure emergencies, hospitalizations, and early death in people who are prone to seizure emergencies.
The Epilepsy Foundation is working with our partners to expand awareness and practices of rescue therapies for the epilepsy community. Stay tuned for more information!
