Antiepileptic drug therapy and monitoring.
Over the past 2 decades, the number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available to veterinarians has grown exponentially. Coupled with this increase is the ability to rapidly and accurately diagnose underlying brain disease with readily accessible magnetic resonance imaging. As a result, the veterinary community is attuned to the need for early treatment intervention. As more treatment choices become available, the unrelenting questions still arise are when should treatment begin, which initial drug therapy is best for our patients, when should treatment changes be considered, and finally, what are the advantages that newer drugs provide for our patients. The purpose of this chapter is to review decision-making strategies for AED therapy, provide an overview of the applicability of current AED available, and present information on the therapeutic advances in epilepsy.
Chicago Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery, Chicago Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: mpodell@comcast.net.
Michael
M
Podell
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
D000927:Anticonvulsants
antiepileptic drug therapy; cats; dogs; epilepsy; seizures