Phenobarbital side effects--how long?

[jtrosen]

My dog (shepherd/husky mix, 73 pounds, 12 years old) began to have grand mal seizures last week. He had two seizures, one on Sunday and one on Monday, at almost exactly the same time in the evening. After the second seizure, the vet put him on phenobarbital (97 mg/2x per day).

He's been on it for five days now and is still pretty out of it. He is extremely lethargic (sleeps most of the day), has coordination problems, and weakness in his hind end. He walks veeery slowly. He's also extremely hungry and thirsty. I've read that all of these are possible phenobarbital side effects. How long do these usually last before the dog gets used to the medication? I'm hoping that these are not signs that something else is wrong, though I am aware of the possibilities.

[cherade9]

I'm an owner of a newly diagnosed Epileptic dog who is also Epileptic! I take Pregabalin and Keppra myself after trying several other drugs with no luck. The Gizlet is on the standard Phenobarbitol (was literally started on it yesterday) but I know how well Keppra works for me so it's in the back of my mind in case it can be used as an additional drug.

Keppra is a unique Epilepsy medication as it doesn't work like any of the other drugs used for treatment. In fact medical researchers aren't even sure how it works, but it does, especially in cases where other medicines aren't helping. This is most likely due to it's unique chemical structure and method of effect on the neurons in the brain. You're quite right, it's a drug that is well worth keeping in mind if the standard meds aren't working or aren't consistently working.

I'm so sorry to hear you lost your furbaby, it's inevitable that they will die but no less devastating when they do. The Gizlet is currently 8 years old and is a Yorkie so hopefully we have many years with him left, but I do worry about him developing a brain tumour or simply dying in his sleep, both of which we humans with Epilepsy are far more at risk for too.

[tonyb286]

Hi. Yes, she will come out of this phase. It may take several weeks, but eventually, the phenobaribital will "kick in" and the side effects will dissipate. The important thing is to make sure you give the tablets each 12 hours (presumably that's what has been prescribed) and don't miss a dose. The drunk-like state will subside, eventually. It's also important to have regular blood checks, as that's the only way of working out (by trial and error) what the correct dose needs to be. Tests should be done at least monthly for the first 6 months and then quarterly and then six monthly later on. If the phenobarbital fails to have the desired effect (after about a month or so) then there are other drugs that should be tried as an alternative.

Tony

[tonyb286]

Sorry I didn't get to you sooner. I am very sympathetic about your circumstances and situation. Phenobarbital is a good medicine for seizures so stick with it through the initial phase of side effects and "settling". It takes a while to get things under good control, but it's worth it. You don't know whether there's a tumour or not, though it is possible. It would be expensive to have the scans needed to find out for certain. The initial phase of phenobarbital does cause a "drunk like" state, but that will pass with time.

Tony

[sldoscher]

I have a hound/pointer mix.  Justice is just shy of 12 years old.  She has been having 4 to 5 seizures per year but they never put her on any medication because they didn't think they were frequent or severe enough to warrant that.  In January, she has a bad seizure and hasn't been the same since then.  Within a couple weeks, she starting pacing, panting and shaking.  I took her to the vet and they did some blood tests that all came back normal.  They gave her two shots of valium with no relief.  I gave her half of a tranquilizer when we got home and she finally calmed down.  These "episodes" continued every few days.  I took her to a neurologist and they did a liver function test and it came back normal.  That same day, she had a very, very bad seizure and I called the neurologist and he put her on phenobarbital.  Its only been a week, but I feel so bad because she is walking (tipping and falling) in a drug induced stupor all the time.  She just isn't the same dog anymore.  Will she come out of this phase?  

[roniboe]

my 11 year old dog has starting taking seizces and been put on steroids and pb 1 and a half morning and night hes always hungrey and at night barks all the time pdsa said he might have a brain tumour hes went from a great dog to one a don't regonise he paces the room panting all the time a don't have the money for private vet and pdsa are limited in what they do can u give me any tips to help kenzo my dog vet wants to put him to sleep what do you advice me am at my wits end

[roniboe]

my 11 year old dog has starting taking seizces and been put on steroids and pb 1 and a half morning and night hes always hungrey and at night barks all the time pdsa said he might have a brain tumour hes went from a great dog to one a don't regonise he paces the room panting all the time a don't have the money for private vet and pdsa are limited in what they do can u give me any tips to help kenzo my dog vet wants to put him to sleep what do you advice me am at my wits end