Every horse owner has the right to know the
safety and efficacy of medications a veterinarian prescribes
for their horse. But even the most experienced horse owners
may not be aware of the health risks involved with using compounded
drugs. Compounded drugs are unregulated drugs produced by
altering or combining other drugs to serve a patient’s particular
need.
Recently, compounded drugs have been linked
to tragic incidents in the horse industry, including the sudden
death of 21 polo ponies in April and the deaths of several
horses in Louisiana in 2006. Because compounded drugs are
not regulated, other incidents remain unreported.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners
acknowledges that reputable pharmacies produce legitimate
compounded drugs to improve the health of horses when an FDA-approved
option doesn’t exist. However, when inappropriately compounded
and used, these drugs may pose a serious threat to the health
of your horse. Knowing the facts about legitimate and illegitimate
compounded drugs will help you and your veterinarian decide
on the best treatment option for your horse.
What is a compounded medication?
Compounding is a process to produce a medication by combining
or altering ingredients for the special needs of an equine
patient. Only a licensed veterinarian may write a prescription
for the compounded medication. Because there is a scarcity
of approved medications for use in horses, there is a legitimate
need for compounding in equine veterinary medicine. Some examples
of legitimate compounding would include crushing a tablet
and creating a paste or gel to aid in the administration to
the patient or mixing two anesthetics in the same syringe
for use in your horse.
Weigh the risks of unregulated medication.
Compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration
and can vary in potency, stability, purity and effectiveness.
And because these products are unregulated by the government,
compounded drugs have the potential to pose serious safety
risks to horses.
Compounded drugs are not generic drugs.
Because compounded drugs are generally cheaper than FDA-approved
medications, horse owners often confuse compounded drugs with
generic drugs. Generic drugs are biologically equivalent to
a brand-name drug. Unlike compounded drugs, generic drugs
go through an FDA approval process and are manufactured in
an FDA-approved facility.
Don’t skimp on quality medication.
A compounded drug should never be requested, used or prescribed
as a cost-saving measure. Putting your horse’s health at risk
with a “knock off” drug could end up costing your horse’s
life. Stay on the safe side and request FDA-approved medications
In the interest of the welfare of your horse,
the American Association of Equine Practitioners advises the
use of legal, FDA-approved medications when such a drug exists.
FDA-approved medications undergo years of testing and are
closely monitored by the government to ensure a consistent,
safe performance.
"As a horse owner, your primary concern
is the health and welfare of your horse. Because compounded
products have no regulatory requirements for potency, safety,
stability or production testing, they are to be used only
as a last resort when there are no approved products available,”
says Dr. Kenton Morgan, chairman of the AAEP Biological and
Therapeutic Agents Committee.
"It is appropriate to request that your
veterinarian inform you any time he or she will be using a
compounded product to treat your horse."
It’s important for horse owners to communicate openly with
their veterinarians about the use of compounded drugs. Though
your vet should always notify you when a compounded drug is
being prescribed, be sure to request FDA-approved treatment
options for your horse. If your veterinarian recommends a
compounded drug, ask why the compounded drug recommended is
the best treatment option for your horse. Understanding the
potential risks and benefits of your horse’s medication is
part of your role as a responsible horse owner.
To view the AAEP’s position statement on drug
compounding, visit www.aaep.org.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners,
headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a
non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare
of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million
horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and
is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management,
research and continuing education in the equine veterinary
profession and horse industry.
Tips for Horse Owners:
• Communicate openly with your
veterinarian about his or her practice’s use of compounded
drugs.
• Request FDA-approved medication.
• When a compounded drug is recommended, ask your veterinarian
to explain why it’s the best treatment option.
• Don’t skimp on cost: Compounded drugs should never be selected
to save money.
• Make sure your prescription is clearly marked and labeled.
• Don’t confuse generic drugs with compounded drugs.
Permission for reprint is granted with attribution given to
the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
