VETERINARY DRUG USE AND

PRESCRIBINGCH. 5

–All drugs have 3 names • Chemical name• Generic (nonproprietary) name• Trade (proprietary) name

TRADE NAME: – Benadryl

CHEMICAL NAME:– 2(Diphenylmethoxy)-N,N-dimethylethylamine

hydrochloride

CHEMICAL STRUCTURE:

GENERIC NAME:– diphenhydramine hydrochloride

CHEMICAL NAME

Describes the chemical structure of the drug– Long, wordy, hard to say– Rarely used when describing medications

Chemical structure is the diagram of the chemical arrangement of the drug– Sometimes seen on package inserts– Also rarely used

GENERIC NAMEAlso called the NONPROPRIETARY name

Written in lower case

Official identifying name of the drug– Assigned by the U.S. adopted names Council

Describes the active drug(s) in the product

Easier to pronounce than the chemical name

DO YOU KNOW THE GENERIC NAME?

TYLENOL– acetaminophen

ADVIL– ibuprofen

CLARITIN– loratadine

TRADE NAMEAlso called the PROPRIETARY nameWritten in capital letters or begins with a

capital letter– Considered a proper noun

May only be used by the company that registered the drug– Registered by the U.S. Patent Office

(approved by the USDA)

May have R or ® next to the name to imply that the product is registered

DO YOU KNOW THE TRADE NAME?

pseudoephedrine – Sudafed

chlorpheniramine – Chlor-trimeton

famotidine– Pepcid

As we have already discussed, generic companies are allowed to market a drug once the manufacturer’s patent expires

They must be bioequivalent (produce similar blood levels)

Occasionally a patient will react one way to a drug, and have a completely different reaction with its generic counterpart.

Generic drugs are usually cheaper

FDA REGULATIONS

Oversees drug standards and the adherence to these standards

Can be found in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP)

– Legally recognized drug standard of the U.S.A– Describes the source, appearance, properties,

standards of purity, etc. of important drugs

All drugs must meet USP standards, be correctly labeled, identifying the manufacturer and the directions for use. All advertisements must be true and correct.

PACKAGE INSERTS

INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE DRUG BOTTLE OR VIAL BY THE

MANUFACTURER TO CLARIFY THE DRUG’S PROPERTIES AND USES

PACKAGE INSERTSThe following info is usually found on a package

insert:

Trade name (if not a generic product), generic name, chemical name

Rx symbol if it is a prescription product

C with a Roman numeral if it is a controlled substance

Manufacturer’s name and insert

PACKAGE INSERTS

Chemistry section/composition statement– Physical and chemical properties, appearance,

solubility, chemical structure, melting point, additional ingredients

Pharmacology– Toxicology and pharmacokinetics may be all

combined into this section

Indications and usage– Reasons to use the drug, how to use it, and

how long to use it, what species to use it in

PACKAGE INSERTSContraindications

– When not to use the drug

Precautions– Conditions that will make the drug more likely

to cause a problem

Warnings– Conditions when problems with drug use may

occur

Adverse reactions/Side effects– Undesirable reactions to the drug/effects that

occur other than the intended effect

PACKAGE INSERTS

Overdosage– Dangers of using excessive amounts, the signs

of overdose, and how to handle it

Dosage and administration– Amount of drug per body weight of the animal

that will produce the desired effect and the route in which the drug should be administered

Storage– Recommended temperature and conditions

How Supplied– Dosage forms, strengths, container size

REFERENCE BOOKS

PHYSICIAN’S DESK REFERENCE– Manufacturer’s Index, Brand and Generic

Name Index, Product Category Index, Product Identification Guide

COMPENDIUM OF VETERINARY PRODUCTS and VETERINARY PHARMACEUTICALS AND BIOLOGICALS– Manufacturer and Distributor Index, Brand

Name and Ingredient Index, Therapeutic Index, Charts

FDA requires that a drug label state: indications for use, species to be used in, route of administration, dose, length of treatment

FDA’s Compliance Policy Guide discusses that food-producing animals should not receive drugs that are labeled for humans

Prescription – an order to a pharmacist, written by a licensed veterinarian, to prepare the prescribed medication and affix the directions, and then sell the product to the client

THE 7 PARTS OF A PRESCRIPTION

1) Vet’s name address, phone number– Usually preprinted at the top– DEA # is needed if it is a script for a controlled

substance, but this may be provided in private

2) Client’s name and address, name and species of patient

3) Name, strength, quantity of drug to be given

4) Instructions for the amount to be given, route, frequency, and duration of administration

5) # of refills allowed

6) Vet’s signature

7) Date of prescription

Can also include cautionary statements and withdrawal times

DRUG LABELWhen dispensing medication, the

following should be included on the label:– Name and address of the dispenser– client’s name (address is optional)– Animal’s name and species– Drug name, strength, and quantity to be

given– Date of order– Directions– Refill info (if necessary)

THINGS TO REMEMBER

DON’T REFILL A MEDICATION BEFORE VERIFYING IT WITH A VETERINARIAN

DISPENSE MEDS IN CHILDPROOF CONTAINERS

CHECK THE DRUG’S EXPIRATION DATE

DISPENSE LIGHT-SENSITIVE DRUGS IN AMBER COLORED BOTTLES AND STORE THEM AWAY FROM LIGHT.

WRITE A ZERO BEFORE ANY DECIMAL POINT