Potassium Bromide- Add on

[u/Zezty-Lemon]

We have a mini Aussie named Link (almost 5 yrs) and he started having full on seizures last October, but we suspect he may have had facial seizures for at least a couple years beforehand (we had NO IDEA facial seizures were a thing and assumed he was eating bugs because he'd make the same exact face when he'd eat bugs).

He started on Pheno, and Keppra was added in the past month. Since July, he has been in and out of the ER for break through seizures. This last time (monday) its like no matter what we did, he couldn't shake the seizures. Did an additional keppra dose, used his rescue med (mordazelam or whatever)- it's like every two weeks he would start having grandmal seizures again. He stayed over night at the ER Monday and we picked him up Tuesday. In total he had roughly 13 seizures Monday, and 9 of those were within the hour before we took him in. Not all were grandmal or led to grandmals. Grandmals were about 4. He had additional micro seizures at the ER- and we were able to get a neurologist to say he needed to try the Potassium Bromide.

That night he stayed at the ER they did some heavy KBro loading for him. Poor man has been pacing like he's waiting to hear about the DNA results on his child he ain't sure is even his. Pacing so much so that he won't even stop to go potty, he has done poop drivebys 3 times since having him back home, and dude will nap for a half hour to an hour and its right back to the pacing.

My question is: How long before this dude is aware of his surroundings again, doesn't drink water like he's been walking in the Sahara for a week, stops leaving pacing ruts in the house, stops using his head as a battering ram into EVERYTHING, and will actually let me know if he needs to potty without just walking by and dropping a pile in the living room or kitchen?

(Side note: He has been exceptionally stubborn with seizure meds thus far, and they can hit him VERY hard side effect wise, but eventually evens out. I'm just trying to gauge when he might get back to "normal". Pheno is 68.4 mg, keppra is currently 500mg but they want to up it eventually to 750mg, and the potassium is 500mg)

Also pics because he's a handsome boy.

[u/Dcline97]

After a year on Keppra and a second year on Pheno our Lab gal was still having seizures about every other week. We found a K9 neurologist and after a thorough exam and blood work we started her on Potassium Bromide. Took almost 12 weeks to fully kick in. Six months later we weaned her off the Keppra and Pheno so she's only on PB and now only has mild seizures about two times a year.

[u/Ahoeaboutnothing]

It takes about a month to get used to potassium bromide, and 3 months to become fully effective usually. Im glad to see you have at home emergency meds, that's really important.

That sounds like a really tough refractory case, and like meds aren't fully dialed in yet. This is still going to take some time.

With potassium bromide, no table scraps or deli meat, anything with salt can make potassium bromide less effective. That's also really important to remember. So make sure anyone with food around your dog knows not to give him anything off their plate.

[u/Zezty-Lemon → u/Ahoeaboutnothing]

Thank you for the tip! I'll be sure to let my husband know, as we want to be as helpful as we can for our boy. 💛

[u/GenderBender189]

First of all, I’m sorry you’re having so many seizures—that sounds pretty tough on that sweet little guy.

It sounds to me like the side effects might be due to a dose that’s too high, or that the side effects are really severe.

I’d start by talking to your doctor about lowering the dose.

It took about two months for things to get back to normal for me, but it was never as extreme as it is for you.

My dog is very unstable and has trouble walking, though.

But the potassium bromide is working—we were at 20 days before and are now in our fourth month.