title: Alternative therapeutic options for medical management of epilepsy in apes.
abstract: Phenobarbital has been the primary antiepileptic drug used in primates, but the dosage required for seizure control is frequently associated with significant side effects. Newer antiepileptic drugs and adjunctive therapies currently being used in human medicine provide additional options for treatment of nonhuman primates. This report describes different drug regimes used for control of epileptic seizures in apes at the Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.), including the addition of acetazolamide to phenobarbital, levetiracetam, carbamazepine, and the use of extended cycle oral contraceptives to assist seizure control in female apes with catamenial epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 West Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Clyde
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Roberta S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D008297:Male; D019974:Pan paniscus
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants