Pharmacists: a question about drug distribution

[john70t]

I'm thoroughly confused at this point.

We finally got our kitty out of emergency care from over the holidays but it was a bit of a challenge getting meds.
They were out of a certain liquid pain medication.
We were told it was easily available from a regular pharmacy(all were called), or another vet.

1). About five other vets said they couldn't fill a script for non-patients by FDA law.
-Our vet doctor said BS to that.
-Our vet said they were stockpiling the drug for their own practice, hence it being unavailable.

2). Other vets said go to a compounding pharmacy.
-Someone said that these aren't open to the general public anymore because of fungi contamination outbreak.

The script was for .3mg buprenorphine 5ml I think. A small dose anyways.
I can't get up to check my notes because the cat weights about 18 lbs and is now laying on my arm. I'm allowed only small movements at this point in time or I get the protest chirp and the claw.

I'm just wondering if our vet hospital was accurate on these FDA drug rules, or the multitude of other vets are.
I don't know who to believe.
We had a cat in pain over the holidays and none even offered to make an exception.

[drleah]

It's actually state pharmacy rules. About another vet practice filling a script. That being said, I have filled a couple trying to help someone out because I was closer by talking to the prescribing vet. But you have another problem as it is controlled (I think schedule V). Only a handful of compounding pharmacies can compound controlled substances and legally (this is FDA) they aren't supposed to compound if an existing product is available that is FDA approved. Compounding pharmacies still require a script and fill the gaps when FDA approved products do not exist. Only a specific compounder was closed over the fungal mess. It's unavailable (much like IV fluids) because Zoetis bought the animal health division of Abbott (buprenorphine). Mid March is the target for new releases. Have you asked about alternatives like butorphanol, gabapentin, meloxicam?


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[john70t]

O.K. Sounds like the perfect storm of factors. It's making a bit more sense now.

The vet hospital finally did sell me a container of Triponol (?) hard pills. Something like that.
That's the only alternative they claimed was available.
(If those others were liquid form, I could have easily picked those up instead.)

I managed to get a few into him, but he's got claws and independence.
The syringe-fed antibiotics(cherry flavored) and food were #1 on my list.
After those he was pretty much unapproachable.

[drleah]

Maybe Tramadol? It's a similar opiod. And it does only come as a hard pill that you don't want to crush (timed release). Some things that may work are canned cheese on it. or ask your veterinarian to consider scripting the original to a place like Diamondback Drugs (1-866-578-4420). They accept transfer prescriptions and can compound in a different delivery method (transdermal gel to rub in ear, etc). Hope this helps.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by drleah

Maybe Tramadol? It's a similar opiod. And it does only come as a hard pill that you don't want to crush (timed release).

That's the name.

Thank you for the info. He has recovered well.