A controlled clinical trial of the anti-epileptic efficacy and toxic side effects of
diphenylsilanediol was conducted on 24 client-owned epileptic dogs. Data obtained from an abbreviated procedural treatment program indicated that
diphenylsilanediol compared favorably with
primidone as an anti-epileptic compound, but had limiting toxic side effects to the liver, pancreas, and possibly to other tissues. There was a mean reduction of 60.7% in seizure frequency in 15 epileptic dogs treated with
diphenylsilanediol when compared with their pretreatment frequency. There was a mean reduction of 55.6% in seizure frequency in 9 spileptic control dogs treated with
primidone. Samples of blood obtained from the dogs in the program on the 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th, and 36th weeks of treatment were examined for complete blood cell count, blood
urea nitrogen, liver function, and pancreatic function. Toxic side effects were not seen among the
primidone-treated control dogs, with the exception of occasional dose-related drowsiness. Among the
diphenylsilanediol-treated dogs, 3 developed
liver disease, 2 developed definite pancreatic changes, and 2 showed evidence of bone marrow suppression. Four dogs died during treatment with
diphenylsilanediol, whereas no deaths occurred during the same interval of
primidone therapy.