Animal Medicines - what to do if you suspect an adverse reaction

What do you do if you suspect that you, or your animal, has suffered an unexpected bad reaction to an animal medicine?

Thankfully, harmful, unexpected side-effects to animal medicines are very rare. Before any animal medicine is allowed onto the UK market it has, by law, to satisfy very strict criteria on its quality, its effectiveness and its safety.

However, once a medicine is in use, it is vital to know if any animals or people exposed to it do suffer problems.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which administers the licensing system, runs a scheme to monitor reports of these reactions in animals and people, called the Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme. And a new leaflet produced by the VMD, which has been welcomed by the National Office of Animal Health, outlines the scheme and includes some advice on what to do if you think you may have a problem.

Sometimes an animal may show some small reaction to a medicine which is normal - just like when babies receive their first vaccinations they often get a slight temperature. But, if your animal is unwell or if you are at all worried, contact your vet. "This is just common-sense whether or not your animal has received medication," said NOAH director Roger Cook. "And it is more than likely that an illness is totally unrelated to a medicine. If you suspect that the problem may be due to a medicine and it is one not prescribed by your vet, bring the packet with you and details of where you bought it. The vet will then have all the facts and can make an accurate diagnosis of the true cause of the problem."

Similarly, if you think you may be affected, contact your doctor for advice or treatment. Likewise, it would be helpful to bring the medicine packet with you.

And finally, if an adverse reaction to an animal medicine is diagnosed, it should be reported to the scheme. Your vet or doctor will normally do this: they are actively encouraged to do so by both the VMD and NOAH, but the VMD welcomes anyone reporting such adverse reactions they have experienced or observed. The form for doing this has just been updated, so it is easier to include all the relevant information.

The purpose of the scheme is to monitor trends in reactions and once the forms are received by the VMD they are prioritised in terms of severity to see whether the problem is likely to be linked to the medicine, whether there have been any other reports about the same product or others like it, whether any further information is required and whether any follow-up is required.

Welcoming the new leaflet and the improved VMD reporting form, NOAH director Roger Cook said: 'Only by professionals and owners taking the trouble to report any problems can the VMD and companies get an idea of any action that needs to be taken. We encourage reports, but are pleased that there are so few. This shows that the authorisation system for animal medicines is doing its job and protecting animals and the public from potential danger.'

Forms are available from The Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme, Freepost KT4503, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3BR, telephone 01932 338427.

3 June 1999

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.

2. The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 34 corporate members and 10 associate members. In 1998 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £384 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports