Published results can be found here.

Study Start Date: 09/01/2005
Study End Date: 11/30/2008

Evaluation of levetiracetam as adjunctive treatment for canine epilepsy

Primary or idiopathic epilepsy is a common disorder of dogs characterized by recurrent seizures with no known underlying cause. Antiseizure medications are the mainstay of treatment, with phenobarbital and potassium bromide most commonly prescribed. However, these medications are ineffective in controlling seizures in some dogs, and can cause considerable side effects. The proposed study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of the new antiseizure drug, levetiracetam, in epileptic dogs that have responded poorly to phenobarbital and potassium bromide.

Study Design:
Prospective, Placebo-controlled, Cross-over, Randomized, Double-blinded

Sample Size:
50

Inclusion criteria:
Patients need to meet several inclusion criteria:

1. Seizure onset between 1-5 years of age;
2. 1 year history of documented seizures;
3. Current treatment with phenobarbital and/or potassium bromide;
4. Seizure frequency of at least 4/month or cluster seizures
5. Dogs must be evaluated at one of the study sites (NC State or UT) in order to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:
Dogs currently receiving levetiracetam.

Study Controls:
Study is cross-over in design, and each dog serves at its own control. Each dog has a treatment period where they receive the test drug and a treatment period where they receive placebo.

Samples:
No samples will need to be submitted.

Costs/Reimbursements:
Cost of all study visits, laboratory testing performed at each visit (CBC, chemistry profile, urinalysis, antiepileptic drug serum concentrations), and study drug are provided at no cost to the owner.

Full Disclosure information:

• The study is funded by a grant from Morris Animal Foundation.
• The investigators do / do not have any conflict of interest.
• The study will be published if results are negative.
• The study will be reported on VIN.
• The authors will acknowledge VIN if the study is published.