
Opioids and Animals
FDA published a resource guide to promote responsible opioid prescribing in the treatment of animals.
On August 15, 2018, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, released a
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“We recognize that opioids and other pain medications have a legitimate and important role in treating pain in animals-just as they do for people. But just like the opioid medications used in humans, these drugs have potentially serious risks, not just for the animal patients, but also because of their potential to lead to addiction, abuse, and overdose in humans who may divert them for their own use,” Gottlieb stated.
FDA is recommending veterinarians use alternatives to opioids, if possible. If veterinarians, however, feel the need to prescribe opioids, FDA recommends they follow all state and federal regulations as well as standards set by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“Working together, I believe that we can make progress in preventing new cases of addiction while ensuring appropriate and rational prescribing of opioids for human and animal patients with medical need,” Gottlieb stated.
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