[Pharmacologic principles in the treatment of epilepsy in the dog and cat]

The pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs used for the treatment of human epilepsies is reviewed for dogs and cats. In dogs, especially phenobarbital and primidone must be regarded as useful drugs for chronic treatment on account of their elimination rate and bioavailability. Phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid and benzodiazepines are eliminated so rapidly that a therapeutic value cannot be expected. In cats, phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid and diazepam must be regarded as suited for chronic treatment, but there is a definite lack of clinical experience. Phenobarbital and primidone are useful for treatment of clonic-tonic generalized seizures (grand mal) in dogs. The effect of primidone depends mostly on its metabolite phenobarbital. Since primidone, given in high dosage for longer periods of time, gives rise to liver damage, phenobarbital is regarded as the drug of first choice. A status epilepticus may be treated by i.v. injection of diazepam, clonazepam, phenytoin or lidocaine. In cats with grand mal, treatment with daily doses of about 1 mg/kg diazepam may be tried. It proved effective for longer time periods without development of tolerance. There is no reliable clinical experience with other drugs in this species.