Potassium Bromide

Physical and chemical properties of potassium bromide:

Potassium Bromide is used as an antiepileptic medication for canines and felines. It is a white crystalline powder to look at and is soluble in water. When diluted, Potassium Bromide tastes sweet, but in a highly concentrated solution, it tastes bitter! Due to the the potassium ion, sodium bromide tastes salty literally at all concentration levels. If consumed, and in a high concentration, potassium bromide aggrevates the gastric mucous membrane. This brings on a feeling of nausea; however, this effect is observed in all soluble potassium salts and is not only recorded for the consumption of Potassium Bromide. Potassium bromide serves as a source of bromide ions. This helps in the manufacture of photographic film, which is treated with silver bromide. A solution of Potassium Bromide is observed to form complexes when reacted with some metal halides. The chemical symbol for Potassium Bromide is KBr.

Medical and Veterinary uses of Potassium Bromide:

The anticonvulsant properties of potassium bromide are most exploited by the medical and veterinary fraternities. In fact, it is interesting to note that Bromide is regarded as the first effective medication for epilepsy! Potassium bromide is also used to treat the condition of clinically proven epilepsy in dogs. It is used either as a first-line or additional treatment when phenobarbital does not adequately control the seizures. In the case of felines, Potassium Bromide veterinary use is limited because it is observed to cause lung inflammation.

Potassium Bromide for human consumption:

Potassium bromide is not an FDA approved drug, to control seizures in humans. However, in some places it is used as an antiepileptic drug, particularly for the treatment of children and adolescents displaying severe forms of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Potassium Bromide is also used for the treatment of early-childhood-related Grand-Mal-seizures and severe myoclonic seizures. The use of the drug is continued in the case of adults who have reacted positively to the drug during childhood. Potassium Bromide displays complete bioavailability. Usually, a sinlge tablet contains 850 mg of potassium bromide. The drug does not interfere with the absorption or excretion of any other anticonvulsant that may be in use.

Potassium Bromide side effects on humans:

The therapeutic index is very small for bromide since it gives rise to intoxication. The side-effects of Potassium Bromide include loss of appetite, nausea, lethargy, depression, loss of concentration, headache, pathologic reflexes, loss of neural sensitivity, abnormal speech and aggressiveness. The use of Potassium Bromide is also connected with the development of acne-form dermatitis and mucous hypersecretion in the lungs, worsening asthma and rhinitis. Cases on record, minimal though, also claim tongue disorder, bad breath and obstipation.

Potassium Bromide dosage in humans:

Potassium bromide is available in liquid and capsule form. The liquid form is flavored. When on a Potassium Bromide drug, you don't have to stick to a strict 12 hour schedule. Twice a day dosage is recommended because some people and animals are not able to tolerate too much salt in the gastrointestinal tract at once. If you miss a dose, make it up over the next week. The effectiveness of a Potassium Bromide drug should not be evaluated until the patient takes the drug for at least three or four months.

Potassium Bromide in animals:

The absorption, distribution and speed of metabolism can vary among dogs and in the case of canines, there is always a published dose recommended as a general guide. An average dose is 20 mg to 30 mg per kg of body weight, given once a day. The veterinarian adjusts the dosage based on blood levels and the extent of seizure activity. To determine the correct dose, it is good to monitor its level in the blood. Any change should be made on the basis of the actual concentration in the blood. The vet is expected to collect a single sample within a week of the loading dose to check the therapeutic levels.