Nimodipine for treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate efficacy and safety of the calcium channel antagonist nimodipine in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

DESIGN

Prospective clinical trial.

ANIMALS: 10 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Dogs were included if seizures were inadequately controlled despite treatment with barbiturates and serum phenobarbital concentrations were > 25 micrograms/ml, if dogs had intolerable adverse effects when treated with barbiturates, or if dogs had mild, inadequately treated seizures.

PROCEDURES: Dogs were treated with nimodipine (2.5 mg/kg [1.1 mg/lb] of body weight, PO, q 12 h), and other medications were slowly withdrawn. Dogs were monitored for seizure frequency and severity as well as any adverse effects to the medication.

RESULTS

Few adverse effects were reported. Seizure control, however, was generally inadequate. All but 2 dogs were withdrawn from the study because of poor seizure control. Plasma nimodipine concentrations were low, with a mean peak concentration of 105.3 ng/ml.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nimodipine was not successful in controlling seizures in dogs used in this study.