11 – Vet Pharmacy Regulations and Dispensing

Question 1

Prescription: vet-labeled product: prescription vs. over the counter

Answer 1

• Prescription: NEED a prescription
• Over the counter: do NOT need a prescription
• *all compounded drug products MUST include a proper dispensing label

Question 2

Prescription refills

Answer 2

• Only good up to 1 year from date of prescription
• *vet-client-patient relationship MUST be renewed every year

Question 3

Prescription transfers

Answer 3

• Only a pharmacist can transfer a prescription and can only be transferred to another pharmacist (NOT a vet)
• *in some jurisdiction: vets are NOT allowed to transfer prescriptions from one vet to another
  o They need to have their own VCPR in order to fill prescription

Question 4

Vet technicians

Answer 4

• Under direction and supervision of a vet, ADMINISTER a drug or other application/treatment
• May NOT make a diagnosis or determine any course of treatment
• *CANNOT PHONE IN THE SCRIPT
  o Only vet can do a verbal order

Question 5

Dispensing

Answer 5

• Prescribing and dispensing are considered SEPARATE practices
• Vet drugs aren’t usually available to human pharmacies due to marketing policies of vet drug companies
  o Might be changing
• *human MDs are NOT allowed to dispense drugs to patients

Question 6

**What are the NEED TO KNOW legal requirements for a prescription?

Answer 6

• Prescribing vet and certified vet facility
• Vet contact info
• Date of prescription
• Patient owner/agent and address
• ID of individual patient or group
• Drug prescribed
  o Brand name or generic name (or both)
  o Strength/concentration
  o Formulation
• Signa: directions for use
  o Route
  o Dose
  o Frequency
  o Duration
  o Withdrawal times for food animals
• Mitte: total quantity of drug
• If generic available: substitution (yes or no)
• Number of refills
  o NO refills for narcotics
• Signature of veterinarian

Question 7

Prescription for in-feed drugs

Answer 7

• Animal production
• Weight or age
• Type of feed
• Total amount of feed or feeding period
• Amount of drug used per tonne
• Manufacturing instructions
• Cautions
• **risk and exposure so much HIGHER

Question 8

Who can dispense drugs?

Answer 8

• In manufactures packaging OR repacking and labelling
• Often done by vet tech, but must be done under DIRECT supervision of vet
• *vet remains legally responsible for dispensing regardless of who performed the function

Question 9

General dispensing guidelines

Answer 9

• *read the label three times
  o 1. When take product from shelf
  o 2. When removing product contents from bottle/vial
  o 3. When replacing product back on the shelf
• *note storage requirements
  o Temperature
  o Moisture
  o Light
  o Expiration (ENTIRE course needs to be before expiry)

Question 10

Dispensing label info

Answer 10

• NOT for pharmacist, it’s for the client
• Same info as on a prescription, BUT needs to be written out with NO abbreviations
• *if not in the original packaging
  o Strength and name
  o DIN
  o Withdrawal time
  o Storage precautions and toxic warning statements
  o *”for vet use only” & “keep out of reach of children”
  o Expiry date

Question 11

Who is responsible for regulating bet drug approvals in Canada?

Answer 11

• Health Canada
• *ID with DIN number
• (biologics: Centre for Vet Biologics)

Question 12

Pesticides

Answer 12

• PCP (pest control product) number
• *NO extra label use
• Needs to be dispensed in original package

Question 13

Who regulates the USE of vet drugs in Canada?

Answer 13

• Provincial Acts and regulation
• Provincial pharmacy acts
• VMA bylaws
• **the vets do!

Question 14

SVMA bylaws and ‘selling’ drugs

Answer 14

• Once meds has left supervision=gone and you can’t take it back

Question 15

What are the most regulated drugs?

Answer 15

• Narcotics!
  o Do NOT mess around
  o *N beside the name and on the label
• Ex. buprenorphine, ketamine and tramadol
• NOT: Naloxone, Naltrexone

Question 16

When does it need a prescription?

Answer 16

• If on the list or the special list
• *so need to have a valid VPCR

Question 17

Controlled drugs

Answer 17

• More regulated than prescription drugs
• Various levels
• Ex. pentobarbital, phenobarbital (seizures), butorphanol
• *got a C on the label

Question 18

Record keeping

Answer 18

• YOU need to document when you got it, used it or dispensed it
  o Checked when doing an inspection
• *need to do a good job
• Keep for at least 2 years MINIMUM (hold on to them longer if you can)

Question 19

Prescription drugs ‘label’

Answer 19

• PR