Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN:
0003-1488
Publication Date:
15 Dec 2009
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Pregabalin as an adjunct to phenobarbital, potassium bromide, or a combination of phenobarbital and potassium bromide for treatment of dogs with suspected idiopathic epilepsy

Curtis W. Dewey DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVS1, Sofia Cerda-Gonzalez DVM, DACVIM2, Jonathan M. Levine DVM, DACVIM3, Britton L. Badgley4, Julie M. Ducoté DVM, DACVIM5, Gena M. Silver DVM, DACVIM6, Jocelyn J. Cooper DVM7, Rebecca A. Packer DVM, MS, DACVIM8, and James A. Lavely DVM, DACVIM9
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  • 1 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
  • | 2 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
  • | 3 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
  • | 4 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
  • | 5 Animal Neurology and Neurosurgery of Texas, 1712 W Frankford Rd, Carrollton, TX 75007.
  • | 6 Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, 20 Cabot Rd, Woburn, MA 01801.
  • | 7 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
  • | 8 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
  • | 9 Animal Care of Sonoma County, 6470 Redwood Dr, Rohnert Park, CA 94928.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.235.12.1442
Volume/Issue:
Volume 235: Issue 12
Online Publication Date:
15 Dec 2009
Restricted access
Reprints and Permissions Purchase Article

Abstract

Objective—To assess tolerability and short-term efficacy of oral administration of pregabalin as an adjunct to phenobarbital, potassium bromide, or a combination of phenobarbital and potassium bromide for treatment of dogs with poorly controlled suspected idiopathic epilepsy.

Design—Open-label, noncomparative clinical trial.

Animals—11 client-owned dogs suspected of having idiopathic epilepsy that was inadequately controlled with phenobarbital, potassium bromide, or a combination of these 2 drugs.

Procedures—Dogs were treated with pregabalin (3 to 4 mg/kg [1.4 to 1.8 mg/lb], PO, q 8 h) for 3 months. Number of generalized seizures in the 3 months before and after initiation of pregabalin treatment was recorded. Number of responders (≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency) was recorded, and seizure frequency before and after initiation of pregabalin treatment was compared by use of a nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results—Seizures were significantly reduced (mean, 57%; median, 50%) after pregabalin administration in the 9 dogs that completed the study; 7 were considered responders with mean and median seizure reductions of 64% and 58%, respectively. Adverse effects for pregabalin were reported in 10 dogs. Mean and median plasma pregabalin concentrations for all dogs were 6.4 and 7.3 μg/mL, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Pregabalin may hold promise as a safe and effective adjunct anticonvulsant drug for epileptic dogs poorly controlled with the standard drugs phenobarbital or potassium bromide. Adverse effects of pregabalin appeared to be mild. Additional studies with larger numbers of dogs and longer follow-up intervals are warranted.

Contributor Notes

Supported by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and the Collie Health Foundation.

Presented in abstract form at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine 26th Annual Forum, San Antonio, Tex, June 2008.

The authors thank Dr. Dan Fletcher for assistance with the statistical analysis.

Address correspondence to Dr. Dewey (cwd27@cornell.edu).