Writing a prescription and reporting a suspect adverse event

Question 1

What are the regulations related to prescriptions?

Answer 1

Vet Surgeons Act
Veterinary medicines regulation
Misuse of drugs act
RCVS - COPC Section 4

Question 2

What is the acronym for diagnosis?

Answer 2

Dx

Question 3

What is the acronym for prescription?

Answer 3

Px

Question 4

What is the acronym for treatment?

Answer 4

Tx

Question 5

What does AE stand for?

Answer 5

adverse event

Question 6

What does AE stand for?

Answer 6

adverse reaction

Question 7

What does SAR stand for?

Answer 7

suspected adverse reaction

Question 8

What does SQP stand for?

Answer 8

Suitably qualified person

Question 9

What does RQP stand for?

Answer 9

registered qualified person

Question 10

What does VMD stand for?

Answer 10

Veterinary medicines directorate

Question 11

What does NOAH stand for?

Answer 11

National Office of Animal Health

Question 12

What does COPC stand for?

Answer 12

RCVS code of professional conduct

Question 13

What does CD stand for?

Answer 13

Controlled drugs

Question 14

What is the rule regarding prescribing human medicine to an animal?

Answer 14

It is now a specific criminal offence to“promote or facilitate” illegal use of the Cascade.
It has ALWAYS been illegal to recommend a human, or indeed any off-license, medication just because it is cheaper

Question 15

What is the expectation when an animal is ‘under your care’

Answer 15

A veterinary surgeon who has an animal under their care must be able, on a 24/7 basis, to physically examine the animal, or visit the premises in the case of production animals, equines, farmed aquatic animals and game.

Question 16

In what situations must a physical exam always be performed?

Answer 16

where a notifiable disease is suspected
when prescribing controlled drugs
when prescribing antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics or antivirals

Question 17

When is the use of antibiotics prohibited?

Answer 17

to be used routinely, to compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate animal husbandry, or poor farm management practices, or to promote growth or increase yield
Prophylactic use is prohibited

Question 18

What is an instalment prescription?

Answer 18

Instalment prescriptions specify ‘on this day you can come and get this amount of x’
It is only valid if it is collected on the prescribed day

Question 19

What is the safest way to distribute a prescription?

Answer 19

Send straight to pharmacy to prevent fraud

Question 20

What should be included on a prescription?

Answer 20

Reason for prescription
Written legibly in ink
Signed
Dated
Use product name in capital letters - do not abbreviate
Pharmaceutical form and strength of drug
Duration of treatment
microgram/nanogram written out, not abbreviated
put a 0 before an initial decimal point (e.g., 0.5)
Give precise instructions on route/dose/formulation
NO alterations
handwritten for controlled drugs
Prescribers and clients name and address
‘for animal treatment only’
‘this prescription is for an animal under my care’
‘It is an offence under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 for a person to alter a written prescription unless authorized to do so by the person who signed it’

Question 21

How many repeat prescription can be given before a patient should be re-assessed

Answer 21

no more than 3

Question 22

what is an adverse event?

Answer 22

Any observation in animals, whether or not considered to be product-related, that is unfavourable and unintended and that occurs after any use of a veterinary medicine

Question 23

What are the types of adverse event?

Answer 23

Lack of expected efficacy
Unexpected
Serious
Non-serious

Question 24

What is an adverse reaction?

Answer 24

A reaction to a veterinary medicine which is harmful and unintended and which occurs at doses normally used in animals for the prophylaxis, diagnosis or treatment of disease or to restore, correct or modify a physiological function.

Question 25

What should you do when you identify an AE?

Answer 25

If you think theAEmight indicate a defect in the product or batch, you mustreport this to the VMD immediately.