No Cover Image

Journal article 100 views

Exploring Human Misuse and Abuse of Veterinary Drugs: A Descriptive Pharmacovigilance Analysis Utilising the Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS)

JOSIE DUNN, Fabrizio Schifano Orcid Logo, Ed Dudley, Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

Toxics, Volume: 12, Issue: 11, Start page: 777

Swansea University Authors: JOSIE DUNN, Ed Dudley, Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.3390/toxics12110777

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence suggests an increasing misuse of veterinary medicines by humans.This study aims to analyse Adverse Events (AEs) associated with selected veterinary productsusing the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: Adescriptive pharmacovigilance a...

Full description

Published in: Toxics
ISSN: 2305-6304
Published: MDPI AG 2024
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68050
Abstract: Introduction: Evidence suggests an increasing misuse of veterinary medicines by humans.This study aims to analyse Adverse Events (AEs) associated with selected veterinary productsusing the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: Adescriptive pharmacovigilance analysis was conducted on AEs related to 21 drugs approved forhuman and/or animal use. Results: A total of 38,756 AEs, including 9566 fatalities, were identified.The United States reported the highest number of cases (13,532), followed by Canada (2869) andthe United Kingdom (1400). Among the eight drugs licenced exclusively for animals, levamisole,pentobarbital, and xylazine were most frequently reported. Reports predominantly involved males(57%) from the 18–64 age group, with incidents related mainly to overdose, dependence, and multiagent toxicities. Unmasking techniques revealed ‘intentional overdose’ as the primary reaction.Polysubstance use was evident in 90% of the drugs, with benzodiazepines/Z-drugs and opioids ascommon co-used classes. Conclusions: Veterinary medications are increasingly infiltrating the illicitdrug market due to their pharmacological properties. This trend highlights the need for heightenedvigilance and awareness to prevent further public health risks associated with the adulteration ofillicit substances with veterinary products like xylazine and pentobarbital.
Keywords: Veterinary medicines; animal medicines; substance use; pharmacovigilance; diversion of medicines; drug misuse
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: This research received no external funding.
Issue: 11
Start Page: 777