Phenobarbital 30mg Tablets
Phenobarbital 30mg Tablets are the long-established, best-in-class first-line maintenance anticonvulsant for canine epilepsy because of their proven efficacy, low acquisition cost, and widespread veterinary familiarity. Compared with the other medications on this list, phenobarbital delivers strong seizure reduction at lower cost but requires routine serum level and hepatic monitoring due to metabolism-related risks, making it less suitable than potassium bromide or levetiracetam for dogs with preexisting liver disease.
Reliable control
Long-acting dosing
Reliable control
Long-acting dosing
Review Summary
"Users commonly report that phenobarbital 30mg effectively reduces seizure frequency for many dogs, though long-term use often brings sedation, increased appetite, and concerns about liver enzyme changes requiring monitoring."
Old-school staple
Established first-line anticonvulsant for canine epilepsy with long duration of action
Old-school staple
Established first-line anticonvulsant for canine epilepsy with long duration of action
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Phenobarbital 30mg Tablets are the long-established, best-in-class first-line maintenance anticonvulsant for canine epilepsy because of their proven efficacy, low acquisition cost, and widespread veterinary familiarity. Compared with the other medications on this list, phenobarbital delivers strong seizure reduction at lower cost but requires routine serum level and hepatic monitoring due to metabolism-related risks, making it less suitable than potassium bromide or levetiracetam for dogs with preexisting liver disease.
Reliable control
Long-acting dosing
Old-school staple
Established first-line anticonvulsant for canine epilepsy with long duration of action
Requires periodic serum level monitoring and routine liver enzyme checks
Reliable control
Long-acting dosing
Old-school staple
Established first-line anticonvulsant for canine epilepsy with long duration of action
Requires periodic serum level monitoring and routine liver enzyme checks
$40-120 CAD
Potassium Bromide Oral Solution
Potassium Bromide Oral Solution is a market-leading adjunct or alternative monotherapy for dogs when hepatic tolerance is a concern, prized for its low cost, long half-life, and renal excretion. Versus phenobarbital and newer drugs like zonisamide and levetiracetam, bromide is often cheaper and avoids hepatic metabolism, but it has a slower onset of effect and can cause polyuria, polydipsia and sedation, and is unsuitable in cats.
Stable levels
Liquid dosing
Stable levels
Liquid dosing
Review Summary
"Owners find potassium bromide oral solution useful as an adjunct to control seizures when phenobarbital alone is insufficient, but it takes weeks to reach steady state and frequently causes sedation, polyphagia, and weight gain."
Syrupy comfort
Commonly used as a long-acting adjunct to phenobarbital for refractory seizures
Syrupy comfort
Commonly used as a long-acting adjunct to phenobarbital for refractory seizures
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Potassium Bromide Oral Solution is a market-leading adjunct or alternative monotherapy for dogs when hepatic tolerance is a concern, prized for its low cost, long half-life, and renal excretion. Versus phenobarbital and newer drugs like zonisamide and levetiracetam, bromide is often cheaper and avoids hepatic metabolism, but it has a slower onset of effect and can cause polyuria, polydipsia and sedation, and is unsuitable in cats.
Stable levels
Liquid dosing
Syrupy comfort
Commonly used as a long-acting adjunct to phenobarbital for refractory seizures
Not metabolized by the liver (primarily renal/extracellular elimination) and requires therapeutic monitoring due to long half-life
Stable levels
Liquid dosing
Syrupy comfort
Commonly used as a long-acting adjunct to phenobarbital for refractory seizures
Not metabolized by the liver (primarily renal/extracellular elimination) and requires therapeutic monitoring due to long half-life
$60-150 CAD
Zonisamide 100mg Capsules
Zonisamide 100mg Capsules occupy a key role for refractory or adjunctive therapy in canine epilepsy as a newer sulfonamide anticonvulsant that provides effective seizure control with relatively low sedation and convenient once- or twice-daily dosing. Technically, zonisamide can be more expensive and is more hepatically metabolized than levetiracetam or potassium bromide, so it is often reserved after first-line agents like phenobarbital or as part of combination protocols.
Broad-spectrum control
Once-daily option
Broad-spectrum control
Once-daily option
Review Summary
"Zonisamide 100mg capsules are generally reported as effective for some dogs with good tolerability and fewer blood-liver concerns, though a subset of pets experience lethargy, reduced appetite, or ataxia."
Sulfa-ish flair
Oral sulfonamide anticonvulsant used as an adjunct or alternative for difficult-to-control seizures
Sulfa-ish flair
Oral sulfonamide anticonvulsant used as an adjunct or alternative for difficult-to-control seizures
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Zonisamide 100mg Capsules occupy a key role for refractory or adjunctive therapy in canine epilepsy as a newer sulfonamide anticonvulsant that provides effective seizure control with relatively low sedation and convenient once- or twice-daily dosing. Technically, zonisamide can be more expensive and is more hepatically metabolized than levetiracetam or potassium bromide, so it is often reserved after first-line agents like phenobarbital or as part of combination protocols.
Broad-spectrum control
Once-daily option
Sulfa-ish flair
Oral sulfonamide anticonvulsant used as an adjunct or alternative for difficult-to-control seizures
Typically dosed once or twice daily with fewer CYP-mediated drug interactions than older agents
Broad-spectrum control
Once-daily option
Sulfa-ish flair
Oral sulfonamide anticonvulsant used as an adjunct or alternative for difficult-to-control seizures
Typically dosed once or twice daily with fewer CYP-mediated drug interactions than older agents
$60-160 CAD
Levetiracetam 500mg Tablets
Levetiracetam 500mg Tablets are a market leader for adjunctive and peri-ictal therapy in dogs because of their rapid onset, minimal drug–drug interactions, and low monitoring burden, making them especially valuable in patients on multiple anticonvulsants or with hepatic disease. Although generally pricier than older agents such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide and sometimes requiring more frequent dosing, levetiracetam's safety profile and predictable pharmacology give it a clear technical advantage in complex cases.
Rapid onset
Low interactions
Rapid onset
Low interactions
Review Summary
"Levetiracetam 500mg is highly regarded for rapid onset, good seizure reduction as an adjunct, and excellent tolerability in most dogs; frequent dosing can be a drawback but side effects are usually mild."
Pill-friendly pal
Broad-spectrum anticonvulsant with minimal hepatic metabolism and low propensity for drug interactions
Pill-friendly pal
Broad-spectrum anticonvulsant with minimal hepatic metabolism and low propensity for drug interactions
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Levetiracetam 500mg Tablets are a market leader for adjunctive and peri-ictal therapy in dogs because of their rapid onset, minimal drug–drug interactions, and low monitoring burden, making them especially valuable in patients on multiple anticonvulsants or with hepatic disease. Although generally pricier than older agents such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide and sometimes requiring more frequent dosing, levetiracetam's safety profile and predictable pharmacology give it a clear technical advantage in complex cases.
Rapid onset
Low interactions
Pill-friendly pal
Broad-spectrum anticonvulsant with minimal hepatic metabolism and low propensity for drug interactions
Frequently used as an add-on for acute or peri-ictal control; standard formulations may require multiple daily doses (extended-release options exist)
Rapid onset
Low interactions
Pill-friendly pal
Broad-spectrum anticonvulsant with minimal hepatic metabolism and low propensity for drug interactions
Frequently used as an add-on for acute or peri-ictal control; standard formulations may require multiple daily doses (extended-release options exist)
$50-150 CAD
Gabapentin 300mg Capsules
Gabapentin 300mg Capsules are widely used as a cost-effective adjunct for seizure control and neuropathic pain in dogs, offering a favorable side-effect profile and useful sedative/anxiolytic effects that can complement other anticonvulsants. Compared with levetiracetam and zonisamide, gabapentin is generally less effective as monotherapy for generalized seizures and often requires more frequent dosing, but its low cost and tolerability make it a practical component of multi-drug regimens.
Pain relief
Calming effect
Pain relief
Calming effect
Review Summary
"Gabapentin 300mg capsules are well-liked for adjunctive seizure control and pain relief with generally mild side effects (sedation being most common), and many owners note improved comfort and fewer breakthrough events."
Catnapping vibes
Used for neuropathic pain management and as an adjunct anticonvulsant in dogs
Catnapping vibes
Used for neuropathic pain management and as an adjunct anticonvulsant in dogs
Increased Safety & Security
Gabapentin 300mg Capsules are widely used as a cost-effective adjunct for seizure control and neuropathic pain in dogs, offering a favorable side-effect profile and useful sedative/anxiolytic effects that can complement other anticonvulsants. Compared with levetiracetam and zonisamide, gabapentin is generally less effective as monotherapy for generalized seizures and often requires more frequent dosing, but its low cost and tolerability make it a practical component of multi-drug regimens.
Pain relief
Calming effect
Catnapping vibes
Used for neuropathic pain management and as an adjunct anticonvulsant in dogs
Oral formulation that can cause sedation and ataxia at higher doses and requires renal dose adjustment
Pain relief
Calming effect
Catnapping vibes
Used for neuropathic pain management and as an adjunct anticonvulsant in dogs
Oral formulation that can cause sedation and ataxia at higher doses and requires renal dose adjustment
$25-90 CAD