Action | Prescribing of opioids |
Stage | Emergency/NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 8/9/2017 |
We finally have the tools with which to adequately control pain in our veterinary patients and I am concerned and resentful that because humans abuse said drugs, that our ability to practice good medicine is in jeopardy. I don't believe the opioid problem stems to any measureable extent from legally-prescribed veterinary drugs. I recently underwent knee surgery, for which I was prescribed 60 capsules containing an opioid. I took three. Good lord why prescribe 60? In speaking to other patients, this seems to be common practice. And so to curb the opioid problem we are going to tie the veterinarian's hands regarding pain control in a 10-lb cat? I do not believe the new regulations are necessary nor a good idea. Nor will they solve the problem.