Medications for Feline Seizures

Epilepsy, a chronic and incurable condition, is among the most common causes of feline seizures. Other possible causes include toxoplasmosis, a disease that damages the nervous system, and feline immunodeficiency virus, an ailment that affects the immune system. Veterinarians treat seizures with a variety of medications.

  1. Phenobarbital

    • Phenobarbital is your veterinarian̵7;s first option for treating seizures. It's an anti-convulsant drug that many studies indicate is safe for cats, according to the Manhattan Cats website. Phenobarbital works much like a sedative, calming the nerves in your cat̵7;s brain. Side effects include potential sedation, thirst, lack of coordination and excessive urination. Your veterinarian must hit upon the correct dosage for your cat, with the animal̵7;s weight among the key factors. Phenobarbital
      can cause liver damage in dogs, but is safe for cats.

    Diazepam

    • Your doctor may choose Diazepam, or Valium, if phenobarbital causes too many side effects. Diazepam controls seizures, although with dogs it often loses its effectiveness over time. Not all cats respond well to this drug. Some cats experiences extreme weight gain because of an increased appetite as a side effect. Other cats may suffer liver problems.

    Potassium Bromide

    • Potassium bromide has shown great promise in controlling feline seizures. Your veterinarian may decide to use it with phenobarbital or by itself if your cat shows adverse reactions to phenobarbital. Potassium bromide builds up in the blood more than twice as fast as it does in canines. You typically need around two months to reach a therapeutic level in your cat. Side effects include potential respiratory problems, which will subside once the cat comes off the medication. However, side effects of this nature rarely occur with potassium bromide.