Characteristics of selected second-generation antiepileptic drugs used in dogs

Abstract

A significant number of cases of clinical canine epilepsy remain difficult to control in spite of the applied treatment. At the same time, the range of antiepileptic drugs is increasingly wide, which allows efficient treatment. In the present paper we describe the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the newer antiepileptic drugs which were licensed after 1990 but are still not widely used in veterinary medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of six of these drugs were tested on dogs. The results of experimental studies suggest that second generation antiepileptic drugs may be applied in mono- as well as in poli- treatment of canine epilepsy because of the larger safety margin and more advantageous pharmacokinetic parameters. Knowledge of the drugs’ pharmacokinetics allows its proper clinical appliance, which, in turn, gives the chance to improve the efficiency of pharmacotherapy of canine epilepsy.

Imepitoin as novel treatment option for canine idiopathic epilepsy: pharmacokinetics, distribution, and metabolism in dogs

“…Several of these novel drugs have been also evaluated for the treatment of canine epilepsy. In a recent review, the pharmacokinetics of second-generation anti-epileptics including felbamate, gabapentin, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, and topiramate were evaluated and these drugs were all found to be eliminated too rapidly to support the use in dogs (Ziółkowski et al ., 2012 ).…”

“…One possible difference in accessibility to seizure control between man and dogs may be the limited availability of treatment options for canine epilepsy (Potschka et al ., 2013 ). In fact, most anti-epileptic drugs which have been developed for humans are not suitable for treatment in dogs due to inadequate pharmacokinetics or adverse effects which are not acceptable (Speciale et al ., 1991 ; Schwartz et al ., 2011 ; Ziółkowski et al ., 2012 ). Even when administration of novel drugs developed for the control of human seizure disorders is attempted to improve seizure control in dogs, nearly half of the dogs refractory to phenobarbital and potassium bromide have remained poorly controlled (Potschka et al ., 2013 ).…”

Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of imepitoin in dogs with newly diagnosed epilepsy in a randomized controlled clinical study with long-term follow up

“…This treatment outcome may be related to the limited availability of treatment options for canine epilepsy [ 11 ]. In fact, many AEDs, which have been developed for humans are not suitable for treatment in dogs due to inadequate pharmacokinetics or potential for serious adverse effects, neither of which is acceptable [ 14 – 16 ].…”