Unit 1 - Introduction Flashcards
in regards to the sask vet act, 1987, what ability do the vet and vet techs have
vet have ability to prescribe and dispense/administer prescribed drug
Vet techs have ability to dispense and administer prescribed drug under direction of the vet
MUST have valid VCPR to carry out role
What is the difference btw pharmacology and pharmacy
pharmacology - science of how drugs work; chem, effects in body, uses/indications, how the body responds to drugs, what happens to the drug in the body
Pharmacy - preparation, dispensing and proper utilization of drugs
What are the 4 rules to live by for safe drug usage?
1 - all drugs are poisons
2 - no drug is a silver bullet
3 - all doses are guesses
4 - complacency kills
What names a name a generic name for a drug?
common name
refers to the active pharmaceutical ingredient
generic name never changes btw human, vet or diff countries
does not indicate the dose format or formulation
starts with “small case” not capitalized, ex meloxicam
How do you know which name is a trade name or proprietary name?
capitalized; followed by a registered or TM trademarked symbol
proprietary names are licensed by a specific drug manufacturer
refers to a specific drug that had been formulated in a specific manner
names will change by country
What are some generic equivalents in drugs?
“generics”
do not appear until original patent on the licensed trade name drug has expired
contains the same active drug as the original licensed drug (same as the original tradename product)
but may not work exactly the same due non-medicinal components that may affect the kinetics/dynamics of the drug
Where can you look for sources of drug information?
- label or package insert
- compendium
- vet drug formularies
What is an on label drug use?
Using a drug according to the directions on the drug label without deviation.
Advantages
drug more likely to be effective, known outcome, decreases risk of side effects, in the events of adverse side effects, the manufacturer will stand behind the product
professional safety net in the event of adverse effects occurring
known withdrawal time for food animals
ALWAYS preferred method
What is extra-label drug use? AKA off label
use of a druge in a manner not consistent w/ what is indicated on the label, package insert or product monograph of any drug product approved by health canada
use in a species not listed, use for an indication not listed, use of a diff dose, frequency of administration or brought of administration
WHat are the responsibilities of ELDU?
Always require a prescription and a valid VCPR
responsibility for all aspects, including safety, adverse reactions, withdrawal times lie with the prescribing vet
Applies to all prescription drugs and OTC meds used off-label
not permitted for insecticides, pesticides and biologicals (including vx’s)
best to avoid ELDU in ALL food producing animals due to questionable WT
What is compounding drugs?
is considered ELDU extra label drug use
a process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a med tailored to needs of individual anim or a sm group of anims”
ex. having a pharmacist compound a drug into a dosage form to ease administration (ex. methimazole topical gel for cats)
mixing penicillin with dexamethasone into ointment in your clinit to make “scratches ointment” for a horse
What SVMA policy allows vets to compound drugs?
“When no appropriate approved products (veterinary or human) exist, veterinarians may prescribe drugs to be compounded for
use for a specific animal or group of animals provided the veterinarian has adequate medical justification for the prescription.”
All drugs are poisonous, when selecting a drug, why does concentration matter?
The conc of drug inside the animal determines whether drug will be beneficial or toxic
What is drug toxicity, why might it happen?
Outright or relative overdose, side effects, accidental exposure, drug interactions or incorrect tx
What are some acute adverse effects of drug toxicity?
Immediatel often no further damage once drug is removed
Effects on CV/resp system/muscles/GI/nervous/endocrine/ repro
What are some chronic adverse effects of drug toxicity?
May not be revealed for years or generations
dec repro, teratogenicity and cancer
long-term liver damage
In terms of drug toxicity, explain what might happen with cats and enrofloxacin?
At label doses may cause retinal degernation/detachment = blindness
May show up days-12wks of tx starting
recovery is guarded
discovered after trials and approved for market
What is a lethal dose?
LD50 (medial lethal dose)
A measure of toxicity
Definition: Dose of a drug (mg/kg) that kills 50% of the animals that receive it
Drugs with high LD50 are safer than drugs with low LD 50
Alters with species, age, health status of patient
Chemicals with LD50 values less than 300mg/kg are considered highly toxic
300-1000mg/kg are moderately toxic
1000-5000mg/kg are slightly toxic
In terms of LD50, which chemical is more toxic?
A: LD50 = 3.2 mg/kg
B: LD50 = 48 mg/kg
A, because only a small amount is required to be a toxic dose compared to B
What is an effective dose?
The amount of drug required to reach this therapeutic effect.
ED50 or median effective dose
Amount of drug (mg/kg) required to produce a desired effect in 50% of animals that receive it
May be different for each indication and individual patients may require a slightly higher/lower dose
What are some examples where ED50 may be different for each indication?
ED50 is higher for septic peritonitis than for a skin infection
Lower doses of pred are used to dec inflam; at higher dose, is immunosuppressive
A low dose of pentobarbital can be anti-convulsant; higher dose for unconsciousness and 2x the dose is euthanasia
