Veterinary Controlled Substance Study Guide With
Complete Solutions
Alfaxalone (Alfaxan)
DEA Schedule IV (C-IV)
Sedative-Hypnotic, Anesthetic agent, given IV. 1-5 mg/kg
- Can be given IM in small animals
- Insignificant analgesic effects
- Can cause respiratory depression/apnea, specifically when given rapidly
Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Simbadol)
DEA Schedule III (C-III)
Opiod, Analgesic, Partial Mu Agonist, Kappa-receptor Antagonist
Given IV, SQ, or PO 0.005-0.04 mg/kg
- Used for Pain Management
- Rarely, but can cause respiratory depression
- Reversal: Naloxone
- Naloxone may not completely reverse respiratory effects in overdoses
Butorphanol ( Torbutrol, Stadol, Torbugesic)
DEA Schedule IV (C-IV)
Opioid, Analgesic, Antitussive, Mu Antagonist, Partial Kappa and Sigma Agonist
Given IV, SQ 0.1-0.4 mg/kg
-Primarily used as a sedative in small animal species as analgesia is mild and of short
duration
-Potential adverse effects: ataxia, anorexia, and rarely, diarrhea
Codeine
DEA Schedule varies by product used.
Opioid, Antitussive, given PO
-Used for analgesia, cough, and sometimes diarrhea
-Mu opioid activity
-Adverse Effects: Sedation, constipation, high doses may cause respiratory depression.
Cats may also show Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulation
Euthasol (Pentobarbital)
DEA Schedule II (C-II)
Barbiturate, given IV
-CNS Depressant
-Used for Euthanasia, but has other therapeutic properties
-Store so it can NOT be confused with other medications
-Avoid contact with open wounds or accidental injection
, -Minor muscle twitching, agonal breathing, urination, defecation, vocalization, and
dysphoria can occur during and after injection.
Diazepam (Valium, Diastat)
DEA Schedule IV (C-IV)
Benzodiazepine
-Used as a skeletal muscle relaxant, hypnotic, appetite stimulant, and anticonvulsant
-Given IV slowly or PO, IM not recommended
-In dogs, use as a anticonvulsant can cause tolerance build
-Adverse reactions in Dogs: Sedation, ataxia, CNS excitement, increased appetite
_Adverse reactions in Cats: Hepatic failure or behavior changes
-IV form incompatible with many other drugs
Fentanyl (Sublimaze)
DEA Schedule II (C-II)
Opioid, Mu agonist, Analgesic
-Used primarily in dogs and cats for the adjunctive control of postoperative pain and in
the control of severe pain associated with nonspecific, widespread pain
-Adverse effects: Bradycardia, Urine retention, constipation, dysphoria, or agitation
-Dogs may become dysphoric when used as a post op CRI
-May alter lab values (amylase, lipase)
Ketamine (Ketaset, Ketaflo, Vetlar)
DEA Schedule III (C-III)
Dissociative General Anesthetic, NMDA-Receptor Antagonist, 0.25-0.5mg/kg
-Used to induce general anesthesia and as a CRI to provide analgesia
- Decreases wind up
-Eyes remain open after ketamine administration, so ocular protection should be used
-Exposure to handling or loud noises should be minimized during the recovery period
-Adverse effects: Hypertension, hypersalivation, respiratory depression, hyperthermia,
emesis, vocalizations, erratic and prolonged recovery, dyspnea, spasms, seizures,
tremors, hypertonicity, cardiac arrest
Hydrocodone (Tussigon, Hycodan)
DEA Schedule II (C-II)
Opioid Agonist; Anti-tussive Agent
- Primary Mu agonist with some kappa and delta activity at higher doses
- Immediate-release product available in combination with homatropine or
acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Prescriptions must specify which combination is to be
dispensed
- Do NOT fill an RX with an acetomenaphine combination to cats!
-Used primarily as an antitussive in dogs; efficacy as an oral analgesic for moderate
pain in dogs has been disappointing
-May mask the clinical signs of respiratory disease
-Adverse effects: sedation, constipation, vomiting, or other GI disturbances
Complete Solutions
Alfaxalone (Alfaxan)
DEA Schedule IV (C-IV)
Sedative-Hypnotic, Anesthetic agent, given IV. 1-5 mg/kg
- Can be given IM in small animals
- Insignificant analgesic effects
- Can cause respiratory depression/apnea, specifically when given rapidly
Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Simbadol)
DEA Schedule III (C-III)
Opiod, Analgesic, Partial Mu Agonist, Kappa-receptor Antagonist
Given IV, SQ, or PO 0.005-0.04 mg/kg
- Used for Pain Management
- Rarely, but can cause respiratory depression
- Reversal: Naloxone
- Naloxone may not completely reverse respiratory effects in overdoses
Butorphanol ( Torbutrol, Stadol, Torbugesic)
DEA Schedule IV (C-IV)
Opioid, Analgesic, Antitussive, Mu Antagonist, Partial Kappa and Sigma Agonist
Given IV, SQ 0.1-0.4 mg/kg
-Primarily used as a sedative in small animal species as analgesia is mild and of short
duration
-Potential adverse effects: ataxia, anorexia, and rarely, diarrhea
Codeine
DEA Schedule varies by product used.
Opioid, Antitussive, given PO
-Used for analgesia, cough, and sometimes diarrhea
-Mu opioid activity
-Adverse Effects: Sedation, constipation, high doses may cause respiratory depression.
Cats may also show Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulation
Euthasol (Pentobarbital)
DEA Schedule II (C-II)
Barbiturate, given IV
-CNS Depressant
-Used for Euthanasia, but has other therapeutic properties
-Store so it can NOT be confused with other medications
-Avoid contact with open wounds or accidental injection
, -Minor muscle twitching, agonal breathing, urination, defecation, vocalization, and
dysphoria can occur during and after injection.
Diazepam (Valium, Diastat)
DEA Schedule IV (C-IV)
Benzodiazepine
-Used as a skeletal muscle relaxant, hypnotic, appetite stimulant, and anticonvulsant
-Given IV slowly or PO, IM not recommended
-In dogs, use as a anticonvulsant can cause tolerance build
-Adverse reactions in Dogs: Sedation, ataxia, CNS excitement, increased appetite
_Adverse reactions in Cats: Hepatic failure or behavior changes
-IV form incompatible with many other drugs
Fentanyl (Sublimaze)
DEA Schedule II (C-II)
Opioid, Mu agonist, Analgesic
-Used primarily in dogs and cats for the adjunctive control of postoperative pain and in
the control of severe pain associated with nonspecific, widespread pain
-Adverse effects: Bradycardia, Urine retention, constipation, dysphoria, or agitation
-Dogs may become dysphoric when used as a post op CRI
-May alter lab values (amylase, lipase)
Ketamine (Ketaset, Ketaflo, Vetlar)
DEA Schedule III (C-III)
Dissociative General Anesthetic, NMDA-Receptor Antagonist, 0.25-0.5mg/kg
-Used to induce general anesthesia and as a CRI to provide analgesia
- Decreases wind up
-Eyes remain open after ketamine administration, so ocular protection should be used
-Exposure to handling or loud noises should be minimized during the recovery period
-Adverse effects: Hypertension, hypersalivation, respiratory depression, hyperthermia,
emesis, vocalizations, erratic and prolonged recovery, dyspnea, spasms, seizures,
tremors, hypertonicity, cardiac arrest
Hydrocodone (Tussigon, Hycodan)
DEA Schedule II (C-II)
Opioid Agonist; Anti-tussive Agent
- Primary Mu agonist with some kappa and delta activity at higher doses
- Immediate-release product available in combination with homatropine or
acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Prescriptions must specify which combination is to be
dispensed
- Do NOT fill an RX with an acetomenaphine combination to cats!
-Used primarily as an antitussive in dogs; efficacy as an oral analgesic for moderate
pain in dogs has been disappointing
-May mask the clinical signs of respiratory disease
-Adverse effects: sedation, constipation, vomiting, or other GI disturbances
