Levetiracetam as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with suspected idiopathic epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of oral levetiracetam administered as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with poorly controlled suspected idiopathic epilepsy. DESIGN-Open-label, noncomparative clinical trial.


METHODS
12 cats suspected to have idiopathic epilepsy that was poorly controlled with phenobarbital or that had unacceptable adverse effects when treated with phenobarbital.


METHODS
Cats were treated with levetiracetam (20 mg/kg [9.1 mg/lb], PO, q 8 h). After a minimum of 1 week of treatment, serum levetiracetam concentrations were measured before and 2, 4, and 6 hours after drug administration, and maximum and minimum serum concentrations and elimination half-life were calculated. Seizure frequencies before and after initiation of levetiracetam treatment were compared, and adverse effects were recorded.


RESULTS
Median maximum serum levetiracetam concentration was 25.5 microg/mL, median minimum serum levetiracetam concentration was 8.3 microg/mL, and median elimination half-life was 2.9 hours. Median seizure frequency prior to treatment with levetiracetam (2.1 seizures/mo) was significantly higher than median seizure frequency after initiation of levetiracetam treatment (0.42 seizures/mo), and 7 of 10 cats were classified as having responded to levetiracetam treatment (ie, reduction in seizure frequency of >or=50%). Two cats had transient lethargy and inappetence.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggested that levetiracetam is well tolerated in cats and may be useful as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with idiopathic epilepsy.
Bailey
Kerry Smith
KS
Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, 163 S Service Rd, Plainview, NY 11803, USA.
Dewey
Curtis W
CW
Boothe
Dawn M
DM
Barone
Georgina
G
Kortz
Gregg D
GD
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam