Cat Seizure Medication Side Effects

Cats are often treated with anticonvulsant medication to reduce the number and severity of seizures.

Cat seizure medication side effects.

In their article neuropsychological and neurophysiologic effects of carbamazepine and levetiracetam dr. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name keppra. It can be very upsetting to see your cat have a seizure. Meador and his colleagues describe the results of a detailed study designed to look at how antiseizure medications affect a person s thinking 1 they looked at two medications carbamazepine the trade name is tegretol or carbatrol and levetiracetam the trade name is keppra.

Data sources include ibm watson micromedex updated 2 sep 2020 cerner multum updated 1 sep 2020 wolters kluwer updated. Seizures happen when abnormal electrochemical activity occurs in the brain. This chemical is often used in over the counter flea treatments especially ones that are designed for dogs and can be toxic to cats. The most common cause of a seizure in a cat is toxin exposure.

They can occur as a single event as a cluster of seizures over a short period or on a recurring basis every few weeks or months. If side effects persist or seem severe notify your veterinarian. Also most anti seizure medications can induce suicidal thoughts or actions and or bring on or worsen depression. Infection neurosis drowsiness asthenia headache nasopharyngitis nervousness abnormal behavior aggressive behavior agitation anxiety apathy depersonalization depression.

Fainting seizure symptoms of a heart attack such as chest jaw left arm pain shortness of breath unusual. Fortunately a single seizure is usually of short duration and your cat is unconscious while convulsing. Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects including. Your cat may experience side effects including fatigue and unsteadiness on his feet but these should subside after he gets used to the medication.

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Mild side effects are common particularly at the beginning of treatment or following changes in the regime. Because seizure medications work in the central nervous system most cause some degree of drowsiness or dizziness at least at the beginning of therapy. What are common seizure medication side effects.

The most common side effect is sedation or lethargy but other signs can also occur. Medications such as chlorazepate pregabalin and gabapentin have not been well studied in cats. This document contains side effect information about levetiracetam. Flea and tick medication sprays dips and shampoos can contain a chemical called pyrethrin that can cause a cat to have a seizure.

The most common anticonvulsants prescribed to cats include phenobarbital and potassium bromide.