Epiphen and behaviour changes - anyone been through this?

[CaptainNelson]

Hi
First posting here, as my dog is usually happy, well-balanced and fine, except for her epilepsy. Began 3 years ago but seizures have been quite far apart until a couple of months ago, when they went through another change in pattern (about the 3rd or 4th change since she started having them) and became longer, more frequent (3 in 2 months) and taking longer for her to come out. She's now started on Epiphen - just over a week. But it's awful - she has no energy (she's a border collie, 5 years old), she keeps falling over cos her back legs are wobbly, she wants to play but won't chase the ball (I guess because she's tired/wobbly legs), she's drinking all the time.
We're due back at the vet's next week. Does anyone know if this is going to settle down and she'll get back to normal, or closer to normal, or is this a long-term change? I feel that we've taken away her joy in living and are making her into a zombie dog. It's horrible.
TIA x

[MattMagnolia]

Our dog was prescribed Epiphen right from her first fit and stayed on it for five years, in increasing doses.
She was extra hungry for some time but not affected in any other way. I’d wonder if the dose was too high if balance was badly affected.
Do research epilepsy and join the canine epilepsy forum. I found that our vets knew very little about it.

[CaptainNelson]

Thanks so much - that's really reassuring that it shouldn't last. I will feel less guilt when putting the tablets in her dinner later! x

[Letsnotargue]

Our greyhound was on Epiphen for years. The first couple of weeks he was on it he was like a baby giraffe with legs everywhere. We went to see a specialist vet to rule out brain tumours and he delightedly demonstrated to his vet students the impact that the epiphen had on his balance, poor dog.

After a couple of weeks he was fine and we didn't notice any effect for the rest of the time he was on them.

[ChestyNut]

My boy was on Epiphen ( plus another later on)
He did seem to drink more, but sleepy/ dopey for first week or so but soon settled.

He went through lots of seizure pattern changes, terrible at one point with cluster seizures which he had to be anaesthetised to stop. He had 4 years after that with no seizures.

It’s tough having a dog with epilepsy

[SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT]

My Cavapoo has been on Epiphen for a couple of years and she slept a lot initially for the first few months. She wasn't wobbly thou, I think it takes a good while for them to get used to it.

[CaptainNelson]

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