MEDICINES FOR EPILEPSY FOR CATS AND DOGS~~~~(CONTINUES)

What Medications Are Used To Treat Epilepsy?

Phenobarbital:

Phenobarbital is the most commonly used drug to treat epilepsy in dogs and cats.
It is best to adjust the dose based on blood serum levels of the drug although some veterinarians determine a good dose through trial and error. Ideal trough phenobarbital serum levels are 10-20 micrograms/ml.

The side effects of phenobarbital are sedation, increased appetite, weight gain, increased thirst and urination and harm to the liver over time. These problems can be minimized if the dose is closely regulated.

Pets on Phenobarbital need to have their liver enzymes tested periodically to check for possible liver damage. Combining phenobarbital with a second drug, such as Potassium bromide, may protect your pet from liver damage. Some owners give their epileptic pets milk thistle to try to protect the liver.

Primadone (Mysoline, Mylepsin, etc.)

The effects and side effects of primadone are the same as phenobarbital. In your pet's body, much of the primaedone is converted to phenobarbital which accounts for most or all of its anti seizure effects.

Phenytoin (Dilantin, diphenylhydantoin)

This drug rarely controls seizures on its own. It should never be given to cats. It can also be toxic to the liver of dogs.

Potassium Bromide

This drug is compounded by a number of special order pharmacies . It can be used to lower the amount of phenobarbital your pet is given to decrease the likelihood of liver damage. Dogs taking this drug need to be careful with salt levels in their diet and whenever their brand of dog food is changed

Valium (diazepam)

This drug is only good to end dangerous long-lasting seizures until another medicine can take effect. It is quite good at breaking seizures but when it is given over longer periods of time the body becomes resistant to its effects.

(Some newer drugs used in human epilepsy show promise in dogs. These include clorazepate, felbamate, gabapentin, levetiracetam and zonisamide.
Unfortunately, with the exception of clorazepate in small dogs, all of these medications are quite expensive.)

(Tranxene®)

This drug can be used in conjunction with phenobarbital. It is moderately effective but serum levels of the drug need to be monitored every 4-6 months as they tend to drift downwards. Clorazepate is similar in structure to diazepam (Valium) and like diazepam, it works well in emergencies. It is available in regular and time-release form. In dogs, both forms work the same. Because dogs vary greatly in how they absorb the drug, blood levels should be frequently checked. Side effects of clorazepate are sleepiness and a wobbly gait.

Felbamate (Felbatol®)

The primary advantage of felbamate is that it does not cause drowsiness. It is often given along with phenobarbital to lower the phenobarbital dose. The toxicity of this drug is very low but it has to be given several times a day. Blood samples should occasionally be taken to check for liver toxicity and bone marrow suppression, which are uncommon side effects.

Gabapentin (Neurontin®)

This drug also causes little to no sedation. It is sometimes given to pets to supplement to other anti-seizure medication such as phenobarbitol and bromide. When using Neurontin, try to stay at the lowest possible dose. A few veterinarians have found it helpful but many have not.

Levetiracetam (Keppra®)

This medication has been used in dogs in combination with phenobarbital and potassium bromide to lower the daily dose of phenobarbital received and in cases where phenobarbital was not able to control the seizures alone. The drug appears quite safe. Rare side effects in dogs include stiff wobbly gait, vomiting and salivation. It's cost is high and it requires frequent dosing.

Zonisamide (Zonegran®)

This drug is sometimes effective in blocking seizures and has few side effects that we know of. When it is used, it is usually an add-on therapy for dogs already receiving phenobarbital. When this drug is used, the phenobarbital dosage can sometimes be drastically reduced or entirely eliminated.

Valproic Acid (Depakote®)

This medication does not work as well in dogs and cats as it does in people with epilepsy. It can be toxic to cats. It is occasionally used to supplement other anti-seizure medications in pets. It can cause the pet to loose hair and it can be toxic to the liver. It can cause drowsiness, sedation, nausea and vomiting. It is best given with food.

Can I Ever Stop Giving My Pet Medications?(continues on next discussion)

0 members favorited this