Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

FURTHER READING
20% is metabolized primarily by hepatic microsomal
enzymes. It does not induce liver enzymes and the halflife
in the dog is about 15 h.
Adverse effects
● Adverse effects in people include transient sedation,
ataxia and loss of appetite.
● Zonisamide is contraindicated in animals with a
known hypersensitivity to sulfonamides. The clinician
should monitor the patient for the development
of adverse effects associated with sulfonamides (keratoconjuctivitis
sicca (KCS), bone marrow suppression,
hypersensitivity reactions (particularly skin),
polyarthritis, fever).
Known drug interactions
In people, the half-life of zonisamide is dramatically
reduced when concurrent medications that stimulate
hepatic microsomal enzymes are given.
Levetiracetam
Clinical applications
Levetiracetam is a relatively new anticonvulsant drug.
It is approved for use in humans but not in animals.
Levetiracetam is a pyrrolidone derivative drug, used
primarily in dogs as an add-on anticonvulsant. There
are no reports on its use clinically in dogs although there
is a clinical trial underway at North Carolina State
University.
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action is not known.
Formulations and dose rates
The trade name is Keppra®. It is available in tablets (different color
for each size) and a clear, grape-fl avored liquid.
• Dogs and cats: 20 mg/kg PO q.8 h
Pharmacokinetics
Levetiracetam is rapidly absorbed after oral administration
and about 90% is excreted in the urine. It is minimally
protein bound (