Upsher-Smith Launches Online Community Resource Program For Patients Living With Seizure Clusters

MAPLE GROVE, Minn., March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. (Upsher-Smith) today announced a new educational program created for patients living with seizure clusters, as well as their families and friends.  The initiative—called Seizure Clusters Connect™—uses traditional and social media to offer patients and their caregivers a community for learning and support.  The program launched online today with the debut of the Seizure Clusters Connect Facebook page and the Seizure Clusters Connect YouTube channel.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:  http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65951-upsher-smith-seizure-clusters-connect-online-community-resource-program

Seizure clusters are seizures that happen one after the other over a short period of time.  There is a recovery period between each seizure and a pattern that is different from the usual seizure pattern. Anyone who has epilepsy can have seizure clusters—at any age, at any time—even when taking antiepileptic medicine as directed.  

"We created these new social media venues to provide a community of support for patients and caregivers affected by seizure clusters," said Matthew A. Fox, Sr. Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Upsher-Smith.  

"Seizure clusters can be particularly challenging for patients and their caregivers," added Sheryl Haut, M.D., Professor of Clinical Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  "The new Seizure Clusters Connect online community offers an array of valuable information and support to patients and caregivers living with seizure clusters."

Seizure Clusters Connect community resources include:

• Facebook Page: Available at www.facebook.com/seizureclustersconnect, the page features commentary from experts, patient and caregiver stories, and opportunities for patients to share their experiences.
• YouTube Channel: Available at www.youtube.com/seizureclusters, the page features videos of some of the nation's leading epilepsy experts as they discuss the significance of seizure clusters. Other topics include patients' perspectives.
• Brochure: The brochure features helpful information about seizure clusters, including the importance of having a seizure care plan and how seizure clusters affect a person's life.  The brochure can be downloaded via the Seizure Clusters Connect Facebook page.

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a medical condition that causes seizures affecting a variety of cognitive and physical functions.  More than two million people in the U.S. are estimated to be affected by epilepsy with about 200,000 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed each year. ¹

About Seizure Clusters
Seizure clusters, also referred to as acute repetitive seizures or intermittent bouts of increased seizure activity, are multiple seizures which occur over a relatively brief period of time with a pattern distinguishable from the usual seizure pattern.²   Typically, there is recovery between seizures.³

Reports of seizure cluster prevalence vary, but it has been estimated that approximately 22% of the intractable epilepsy population (approximately 152,000 people) experience them. ^4,5,6,7  

Upsher-Smith's Epilepsy Pipeline
Upsher-Smith's central nervous system (CNS) pipeline includes a number of investigational drug programs for various indications within epilepsy, including USL255, USL260, and USL261.

About Upsher-Smith
Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., founded in 1919, is a growing pharmaceutical company dedicated to its mission of Advancing Pharmacotherapy. Improving Life™.  With capabilities ranging from early-stage research to delivering on-market products, Upsher-Smith is committed to developing quality products that enable people to live life to its greatest potential.  For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.

References

1. Epilepsy Foundation.  Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org.  Accessed February 24, 2014.
2. Dreifuss FE, Rosman NP, Cloyd JC, et al. A comparison of rectal diazepam gel and placebo for acute repetitive seizures. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1869-75.
3. Cereghino JJ. Identification and treatment of acute repetitive seizures in children and adults. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2007 Jul;9(4):249-55.
4. Kobau R, Zahran H, Thurman DJ, et al. Epilepsy Surveillance Among Adults – 19 States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2005.  MMWR.  2008;57:SS-6.
5. Kwan P, Brodie MJ. Early Identification of Refractory Epilepsy. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:314-319.
6. Berg AT, Vickrey BG, Testa FM, et al. How long does it take for epilepsy to become intractable? A prospective investigation. Annals of Neurology. 2006;60:73-79.
7. Haut SR, Lipton RB, LeValley AJ, et al. Identifying seizure clusters in patients with epilepsy. Neurology. 2005 October 25;65(8):1313-1315.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65951-upsher-smith-seizure-clusters-connect-online-community-resource-program

SOURCE Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.