Virbac has announced the launch of Epirepress (phenobarbital) for the treatment of epilepsy in dogs, designed to make dosing and dispensing easy and accurate for practice staff and owners. Virbac has announced the launch of Epirepress (phenobarbital) for the treatment of epilepsy in dogs, designed to make dosing and dispensing easy and accurate for practice staff and owners. 

Virbac says phenobarbital is the only medication licensed to treat both idiopathic and structural epilepsy, and that it provides clinical improvement in 85% of cases.1 

Epirepress is offered in the conventional 60mg tablet strength, which can be split into two or four so dosing can be tailored to the needs of individual patients. 

EpiRepress is the first epilepsy treatment to be offered in easy-to-dispense boxes of 30 tablets, removing the need for the practice team to count out tablets from larger pots – a process which can now be done without the need to handle individual tablets. Virbac says the smaller box size also makes the purchase price more manageable for clients.

Virbac has produced a range of client and marketing materials to support the use of EpiRepress, including an epilepsy diary, a folder to keep the diary and extra materials in one safe place, and a diagnostic and treatment poster for practices. 

Virbac Product Manager Sarah Dixon MRCVS said: "The prevalence of canine epilepsy means that most practices are seeing at least one case a week.2  Phenobarbital is the mainstay treatment for canine epilepsy and, in developing our product, we wanted to offer practices and owners an easier, more accurate and more cost-effective solution.1  EpiRepress, with its divisible 60mg tablets and smaller box size, is the result and we are delighted to be able to launch it. 

"We are focused on supporting practices and owners with compliance so have also developed a novel practice support package for EpiRepress. It offers the latest guidance to both vet practices and pet owners on the diagnosis, treatment and management of this challenging disease."

References

  1. Podell, M., Volk, H. A., Berendt, M., Loscher, W., Munana, K., Patterson, E. E., & Platt, S. R. (2016). 2015 ACVIM Small Animal Consensus Statement on Seizure Management in Dogs, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 30, 477-490.
  2. IVETF (2015). International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force Consensus Reports.  Available at: www.biomedcentral.com/bmcvetres/series/IVETF_consensus_reports.

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.