[susan davis]

Oh my goodness!! I am sooooo upset!! Emmie has 'focal' seizures and is on phenobarbital. I had a bile acid test and liver panel done Tuesday. Today the vet called with bad news. The alkaline phosphotase (sp?) is almost 4000 and is not supposed to be over 250!! The bile acid test was abnormal too, though not 'terrible'. The rest of the liver function tests were OK. Now the vet is talking about taking Em off the phenobarbital, or starting a new drug, Potassium Bromide. I think Em NEEDs the pheno because it really helps her whole little being,. She is so much more friendly, less scared, less panicky, with it. And of course the fly biting is much reduced with the medication. I'm just reaching out to see if anyone here has any suggestions. Sue

 

[svdreamer]

I am so sorry. Smoke had focal seizures, I am so lucky they stopped. I have heard good things about the Potassium Bromide, that it protects their livers. Pheno is broke down in the liver. Since she is already having elevated liver enzymes, the Potassium Bromide should be better for her.



POTASSIUM BROMIDE (KBr)

Potassium Bromide (abbreviated as KBr) is often considered the first choice drug for any dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, and because it has no effect on the liver, is often chosen for dogs with liver damage. Unlike Phenobarbital (Pb), which is processed by the liver, bromide works by replacing chloride throughout the body, is stored in body fluids and eliminated unchanged by the kidneys. However, where Phenobarbital is effective almost immediately, Kbr can take up to three or four months to reach its full effect. A loading dose may be necessary for dogs with frequent seizures or when Phenobarbital must be withdrawn rapidly because of liver disease.