title: A single-blinded phenobarbital-controlled trial of levetiracetam as mono-therapy in dogs with newly diagnosed epilepsy.
abstract: Treatment of canine epilepsy is problematic. Few antiepileptic drugs have proven efficacy in dogs and undesirable adverse effects and pharmacoresistance are not uncommon. Consequently, the need for investigation of alternative treatment options is ongoing. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam as mono-therapy in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. The study used a prospective single-blinded parallel group design. Twelve client-owned dogs were included and were randomised to treatment with levetiracetam (30 mg/kg/day or 60 mg/kg/day divided into three daily dosages) or phenobarbital (4 mg/kg/day divided twice daily). Control visits were at days 30, 60 and then every 3 months for up to 1 year. Two or more seizures within 3 months led to an increase in drug dosage (levetiracetam: 10 mg/kg/day, phenobarbital: 1 mg/kg/day). Five of six levetiracetam treated dogs and one of six phenobarbital treated dogs withdrew from the study within 2-5 months due to insufficient seizure control. In the levetiracetam treated dogs there was no significant difference in the monthly number of seizures before and after treatment, whereas in the phenobarbital treated dogs there were significantly (P = 0.013) fewer seizures after treatment. Five phenobarbital treated dogs were classified as true responders (≥50% reduction in seizures/month) whereas none of the levetiracetam treated dogs fulfilled this criterion. Adverse effects were reported in both groups but were more frequent in the phenobarbital group. In this study levetiracetam was well tolerated but was not effective at the given doses as mono-therapy in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: nadiaf@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fredsø
authors.affiliation: The Epilepsy Clinic, Department of Neurology, University State Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabers
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Section for Epidemiology, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.affiliation: Centre of Functional Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berendt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: Antiepileptic drug; Canine; Monotherapy; Seizure