title: Levetiracetam as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with suspected idiopathic epilepsy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, 163 S Service Rd, Plainview, NY 11803, USA.
authors.forename: Kerry Smith
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Curtis W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Boothe
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Gregg D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kortz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam