1. Veterinary Pharmacology and the Veterinary Technician
Chapter 1

2. Pharmacology and technicians: LVT vs OJT
LVTs know WHY a particular drug was prescribed
LVTs are aware of ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS
LVTs are aware of a drug’s beneficial effects
LVTs know whether a patient is properly responding to anesthesia
LVTs know how to monitor a hospitalized patient’s response to medication
LVTs know how to interpret a client’s description of their pet’s reaction to medication

3. RULES to live by: 1. All drugs are ________________.
-How a drug is administered can be beneficial or detrimental to the animal’s health
2. No drug is a ________________ _______________.
-Will alter physiology, which may not be functioning normally in that animal
3. All doses are ________________.
-The published dose may need to be altered
4. Complacency ____________.
-If same meds are used frequently, a false sense of security may develop

4. What’s in a name?
CHEMICAL NAME
Describes the chemical composition/ molecular structure of the drug (structure is sometimes seen on package inserts)
Long, wordy, hard to say
Rarely used by the veterinary professional
2(Diphenylmethoxy)-N,N-dimethylethylamine hydrochloride

5. What’s in a name? GENERIC NAME
Also called the _____________________ name
Written in LOWER case
Official identifying name of the drug
Describes the active drug(s) in the product
Easier to pronounce and shorter than the chemical name
diphenhydramine hydrochloride

6. What’s in a name? Benadryl TRADE NAME
Also called the ____________________________ name
Written in capital letters or begins with a capital letter
Considered a proper noun
Name is used only by the manufacturer that it is registered to
Have _____ or _____ next to the name to imply that the name is registered
This name is optional
Benadryl

7. GENERIC EQUIVALENTS
When a company receives FDA approval to market a new drug, that company is the only one who can manufacture the product for _______ years once the patent is approved.
Once the product is on the market, it uses its funds to recover the costs of research, development, marketing, and testing.

8. GENERIC EQUIVALENTS
When the waiting period is over, other companies may manufacture the product using a different trade name (called the generic equivalent) .
These products are cheaper because these companies are not recouping money from drug development.
Bioequivalence must be at least _______%

9. Therapeutic agents that are composed of _____________ or _________________ parts instead of synthesized chemicals.
Extracts must produce consistent effects from bottle to bottle.
If a company markets a product as a ________________________ (nutritional supplement) instead of an extract, FDA registration is not required and potency may vary from bottle to bottle.
EXTRACTS

10. LEGEND VS OTC
The FDA determines whether a drug will be LEGEND (prescription) or OTC
Decision is based on toxicity of drug, method of use, and how well directions can be written for drug’s usage
Over the counter drugs contain an ingredient that is deemed safe or is in a low enough concentration to not likely cause harm.

11. Legend/prescription drugs are prescribed by licensed veterinarians and have potential toxic effects or must be administered in a way that requires the services of trained personnel.
Prescription drugs must state: “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug go use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.”
Although LVTs cannot prescribe medications, they can fill drug orders and dispense medications under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.
Do not automatically refill medications without the permission of the prescribing veterinarian.

12. VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
**A valid VCPR is required before a drug can be prescribed to a patient.**
The veterinarian assumes responsibility for making decisions regarding the patient’s health.
The client agrees to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.

13. VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
The veterinarian knows enough about the patient to make a preliminary diagnosis or has examined the patient recently.
The veterinarian is available for follow-up care or has arranged for emergency care.
The veterinarian oversees treatment, compliance, and outcome.
Patient records are maintained.

14. Dosage forms- SOLIDS
_______________ – powdered drug + excipient compressed into disk
______________: chewable, mixed with a sugar and flavored
______________-coated: coating protects the drug against the acidity of the stomach; allows it to remain intact until the small intestines.
______________-release/________________-release: tablet dissolves slowly, meds are released gradually

15. Dosage forms- SOLIDS
_______________– powdered drug compressed into capsule-shaped tablet
______________(aka CAPSULE)- container made of gelatin/starch/cellulose that houses a powder.
_______________ (aka lozenge) – drug is in a hard, candy-like tablet that is kept in the mouth and slowly dissolved

16. Dosage forms- SOLIDS
____________________– medication placed in the rectum where it is dissolved and absorbed
_______________- large rectangular tablets given to large animals with a balling gun
______________- semisolid that keeps its form at body temperature

17. Dosage forms- LIQUIDS
___________________- drug is completely dissolved in a liquid and does not settle out when left standing
___________________: IV drugs are added to ions (K, Cl, Na) to facilitate dissolving.
___________________: drug is dissolved in sugar solution for taste and preservation. Sugar-free syrups use artificial sweeteners. NO _________________ in dogs
___________________: drug is dissolved in alcohol and flavored. Rarely used in animals due to taste.

18. Dosage forms- LIQUIDS
___________________- drug does not dissolve within liquid, but settles at the bottom of a container. Needs to be shaken to evenly re-suspend. Cloudy.
Emulsion: liquid drug is mixed with a liquid fat or an oil

19. Dosage forms- TOPICALS
________________- alcohol solution applied to the skin
________________- drugs in an oil base that are rubbed into the skin
________________-emulsion of oil and water applied to the skin by dabbing; provides soothing effect
________________ – semisolid of oil and water that liquefies on the skin at room temp

20. Dosage forms-INJECTABLES
________________- small, airtight glass containers with a neck. Must be broken to access drug. Single dose.
_____________- glass bottles with rubber stoppers that must be punctured by a needle
Multidose: contain preservatives to extend shelf life (antibiotics, anesthetics, anti-inflammatories)
Single-dose: discarded after one use (vaccines)
____________________/DEPOT – formulated to prolong absorption from the site of administration
IMPLANT- pellet containing a chemical or hormone that is inserted subcutaneously and absorbed over time.

21. Extra-label/Off-label drug use
Using a medication in a manner that is not approved by FDA
Different species, dosage, route of administration, disease being treated than what the package insert indicates
AMDUCA allows off-label drug use if “the health of the animal is threatened, or suffering or death may result from failure to treat.”
Only allowed when:
There is no approved drug to treat the animal's condition or the approved drug's dosage is not effective.
A careful diagnosis has been made and a valid VCPR exists.
The identity of the animal being treated is carefully maintained.
The withdrawal time is extended.
The drug is properly labeled to ensure safety.

22. SOURCES OF DRUG INFORMATION
Text books
Written by experts, but out of date by publication.
Good source of extra-label info
PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference)
Human drug resource
Can be useful for basic info if an animal accidentally ingests a human medication
Veterinary journals
Case studies and clinical trials
Conference proceedings

23. SOURCES OF DRUG INFORMATION
Internet
Remember: anyone can make a website
Reliable sites:
List the author’s name, their credentials, contact info
List a (recent) date that the website was last updated
Cite references
Ends in .gov or .edu or is tied to a reputable college/university
Questionable sites:
Misspellings/poor grammar
Cheap looking
Sponsored by a biased group
Use hyperboles
Advertise unrelated products

24. SOURCES OF DRUG INFORMATION
Package inserts, Formularies
Info that may be listed (Heading):
The copyright or trademark name of the drug
Whether or not the drug is over the counter or prescription (Rx)
Whether or not the drug is a controlled substance and if so which schedule
Phonetic spelling of name
Nonproprietary name
Dosage form
USP designation

25. SOURCES OF DRUG INFORMATION
Info that may be listed (after Heading):
Active and inert ingredients
Indications
Precautions, warnings, and contraindications (ADR)
Black box warnings
How to treat an overdose
Dosage and administration
Pharmacology (Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics)