Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How extended-release topiramate works and side effects in healthy cats
By Graham, Lindsey T et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics·2023·The Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The pharmacokinetics of single oral dose extended-release topiramate and adverse effects after multi-dose administration in healthy cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at how well a new extended-release medication called topiramate works for treating seizures in cats. Healthy cats were given a daily dose of topiramate for 30 days, and the results showed that the medication reached the right levels in their blood to potentially control seizures. While the cats didn't show any obvious side effects, four out of eight developed mild anemia, which raises concerns about the long-term safety of this treatment. More research is needed to fully understand how safe and effective topiramate is for cats with epilepsy.
People also search for: cat seizure treatment · topiramate for cats · feline epilepsy medication · side effects of topiramate in cats
Abstract
Current treatment options for feline epilepsy are limited to medications that require administration of multiple doses per day or administration of a capsule or large tablet. Expanding the current treatment options could improve patient and owner compliance and optimize seizure control. Topiramate has been used sparingly in veterinary medicine, and limited pharmacokinetic studies have focused on immediate release formulations in dogs. If effective and safe, topiramate extended-release (XR) could broaden the current treatment options for feline epilepsy. The aims of this two-phase study were to establish single-dose pharmacokinetics for topiramate XR in cats, identify a dosing regimen that maintains steady-state plasma drug concentrations within a reference range extrapolated from human medicine (5-20 μg/mL), and evaluate the safety of topiramate XR in cats following multidose administration. Topiramate XR administered orally at 10 mg/kg once daily for 30 days was sufficient to achieve the desired concentrations in all cats. While no clinically apparent adverse effects were observed, four out of eight cats developed subclinical anemia, calling into question the safety of topiramate XR with chronic administration. Further studies are necessary to better understand the potential adverse effects and overall efficacy of topiramate XR for the treatment of feline epilepsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36872425/