title: The efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in pharmacoresistant epileptic dogs.
abstract: Twenty-two dogs with idiopathic epilepsy which were pharmacoresistant to phenobarbitone and bromide were treated with levetiracetam as an add-on medication. Records of eight dogs were used retrospectively to determine a safe, efficient levetiracetam dosage. Fourteen dogs were entered into a prospective, open label, non-comparative study. After 2 months of levetiracetam oral treatment (10 mg/kg TID), 8/14 dogs responded significantly to the treatment and seizure frequency was reduced by 50%. In dogs that remained refractory, the dosage was increased to 20 mg/kg TID for 2 months. One further dog responded to levetiracetam treatment. Levetiracetam responders had a significant decrease in seizure frequency of 77% (7.9+/-5.2 to 1.8+/-1.7 seizures/month) and a decrease in seizure days per month of 68% (3.8+/-1.7 to 1.2+/-1.1 seizure days/month). However, 6/9 responders experienced an increase in seizure frequency and seizure days after 4-8 months continuing with the levetiracetam treatment at the last effective dosage. Levetiracetam was well tolerated by all dogs and sedation was the only side-effect reported in just one of the 14 dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Neurology, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK. hvolk@rvc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Holger A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Matiasek
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luján Feliu-Pascual
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Kate E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Chandler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001965:Bromides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001965:Bromides; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam