Drug compounding position statement adopted
Compounding services have become more abundant as veterinary pharmacies multiply and enjoy financial success. Compounded drugs provide veterinarians with a more convenient or accurate dosing form for their animal patients. The compounding services that pharmacists are offering to veterinarians include:
When using a compounding pharmacy, however, veterinarians must not outsource their medical judgment. Just because a pharmacy produces a product such as a gel, it doesn't mean the product is safe or effective. No published scientific data exist to document the proper regimen of a gel product necessary to deliver a safe, yet effective, dose of any drug in any species. Although it is likely that some drugs may be conveniently delivered by this method, the use of gels and other novel drug delivery systems should be substantiated scientifically. The AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents considered the message important enough to draft an AVMA position statement. Veterinarians have been seeking guidance from the AVMA and veterinary clinical pharmacologists about the efficacy and safety of such products, particularly drugs delivered in topically administered gels. In November the Executive Board adopted the council's draft position. It states:
Dr. Dawn M. Boothe of Texas A&M University, vice chair of the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and its pharmacology representative, said, "New compounding modalities being offered by many pharmacies have the potential for facilitating drug therapy in our patients. However, prescribing of a compounded drug ideally is based on scientific support. "Prescribing of a compounded drug is associated with greater inherent risk than the uncompounded drug. It is the responsibility of the veterinarian, not the pharmacist, to assess the need and appropriateness of the compounded product and to ensure that all decisions and actions are done in the context of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship." | |