Pharmacists say proposed FDA rules are not in animals best interest

BILLINGS – When Fluffy, your feline who just shredded a new curtain gets her next dose of Fluoxetine or kitty Prozac, you may have to give her a pill, rather than rubbing a gel in her ear.

That will be the outcome if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formalizes a policy prohibiting pharmacists from mixing or compounding pet medications from pure chemicals. Instead, they would have to buy commercially available drugs and grind up the pills.

“In the eyes of the FDA, the only thing you can use on Fluffy is the capsule manufactured and sold at a drug store. The FDA said it is an unapproved drug if you’re turning that capsule into a gel to rub inside Fluffy’s ear,” said David Miller, a pharmacist and chief executive of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. He’s also a pet owner who works in Washington, D.C.

This issue is a top concern for Miller and IACP’s 2,000 members. And time is short.

The FDA is soliciting suggestions about the standards, but comments must be received by Friday. That’s a 45-day comment period, instead of the normal 90 days, and the issue is just gaining attention. Read more…