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244 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

In general, there are three groups of medications avail- primary container. The pages that follow are the running
able; one group is referred to as over‐the‐counter (OTC). totals of that drug. The inventory headings in the log-
These medications can be purchased at pet stores book to record the amounts dispensed must include the
and farm or ranch stores for use by the owner on their following:
animals. Their manufacturing, dosage recommenda-
tions, and use is monitored by the Food and Drug 1. Quantity dispensed – this is the amount used per
Administration (FDA) but not as strictly as the process patient
for prescription drugs. They can be like a prescription 2. Quantity remaining in the original container – this
drug but at a lower concentration. is a running total with the quantity dispensed
The second group is prescribed medications, usually subtracted as it is used. For example, ketamine
for use on a single animal or by a single heard or flock of comes in a 20‐mL vial, 1.3 mL was used for patient
animals owned by one person. As we learned in Chapter 2, X, 20 – 1.3 = 18.7 mL left in the primary bottle
the veterinarian must establish a client–patient–veteri- 3. Date and time (optional) dispensed
narian relationship in order to prescribe any medica- 4. Full name and address of the patient’s owner
tions to any animal. In veterinary practices, only veter inarians 5. Name and species of animal
can prescribe medications. These medications are sup- 6. Signature of the person dispensing – if you use
plied to veterinary practices via a distributer or directly initials there must be a signature with initials page
from the manufacturer and only veterinarians that are in each book.
licensed to practice can purchase them for resale to their The DEA limitations on access to controlled sub-
clients. stances lists four categories of individuals who cannot
access these items: anyone convicted of a felony related
Controlled Drugs to controlled substances; anyone denied DEA registra-
tion; anyone whose license has been revoked by the
DEA; and anyone who has surrendered DEA licensure.
The third group is the controlled or scheduled sub- Among the processes for new employee orientation is
stances that only a veterinarian with a Drug Enforcement the signing of a statement that the individual is not
Administration (DEA) permit can purchase and utilize among the groups denied access to controlled sub-
for patient care. Permits are issued by the DEA and are stances. There will be a background check into drug use,
renewable every 3 years. A person with such a permit is so it is best not to lie about this. It is not required by the
to post the license in a “visible place” within the facility. DEA, but it is permitted. While some may consider this
These are prescription drugs that have the potential for overly cautious, the veterinarian’ s access to anesthetics
human addiction. The DEA has specific rules for and painkillers will be withdrawn by the DEA if strict
ordering, storing, and dispensing these medications. All control of these drugs is not provided and accurate
controlled drugs are required to be stored behind two records for use of drugs is not maintained.
locks. This means they must be stored in a locked box in Controlled or scheduled drugs are designated with a
a safe or other locked, permanently affixed place. Access capital C and a Roman numeral on the primary con-
should be limited to one or two persons within a facility. tainer. They are “scheduled” from most addictive to least
Careful inventory of controlled drugs within the facility addictive. These medications are recorded in a drug log-
must be recorded as a running total, meaning everything book kept on the premises in a central location. The
that comes in from the manufacturer and everything inventory manager will be responsible for entering the
that is used on a patient must match. Strict adherence to quantity of control medications received. It is the respon-
these rules is absolutely required otherwise the veteri- sibility of everyone else to enter the amounts used in the
narian could lose not only his/her DEA license but his/ drug logbook as it happens.
her license to practice medicine and possibly have to do The following are examples of controlled drugs, their
jail time. schedule designations, and recording rules:
Careful records of the amounts purchased by the
clinic and then dispensed or used for patients are care- • Schedule V: low addictive potential – CV
fully recorded in a drug logbook. Logbooks must be writ- designation – usually not required in the drug log by
ten in ink, with pages numbered and permanently law, but the facility may require recording of amounts
bound so they cannot be tampered with. Drug logbooks dispensed (e.g., lomotil, Robitussin AC). No limits on
are maintained for at least 2 years, but requirements may refills.
vary by state. Logbooks are usually set up in a chart • Schedule IV: low addictive potential with limited
format with each controlled substance having its own dependence – usually not required in the drug log by
separate book. The information required for each log- law, but the facility may require recording of amounts
book: name of drug, drug form (liquid, tablet, capsule, dispensed (e.g., diazepam (Valium), phenobarbital).
ointment, paste), strength, and amount in or size of Limited to five refills in 6 months.