Dispensing human medication for animals

technical advice is our interpretation of how professional standards apply in a particular situation it is designed to help veterinarians deal with common issues in practice, using their professional judgement to apply the advice to their own situation it represents our best efforts at the time of publication but standards and expectations change over time and particular care should be used when reading old advice what is the maximum period of supply when prescribing human medication for animals? the maximum period of supply for prescription medicines is three months this is outlined in section three of the veterinary medicines part of the code of professional conduct this means that you could authorise a prescription for a human medicine for one month, with two repeats the code expects veterinarians to use their professional judgement and discretion to decide the appropriate period of supply this will depend on the dosage, animal type and weight, and any associated risks that need to be managed what about adding repeats to a script for controlled drugs? the veterinary council’s understanding of the misuse of drugs act is that veterinarians cannot prescribe repeats for controlled drugs, and can only prescribe enough of the controlled drug for one month the requirements for supplying controlled drugs were amended in december 2022, and the part of the legislation that supports our understanding of the regulations is cl 31(1) (a) (d) https //aus01 safelinks protection outlook com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww legislation govt nz%2fregulation%2fpublic%2f1977%2f0037%2flatest%2fdlm55920 html%3fsearch%3dsw 096be8ed81dcf0e3 class 25 se%26p%3d1\&data=05%7c01%7cjohn%40prioritycomms co nz%7c81ca1080650447d23e9808dbf5e83144%7cb2653b648f694bb09c25a5abacc6a8da%7c0%7c0%7c638374150046715850%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c3000%7c%7c%7c\&sdata=pgrb3%2fegicagqks2tn37mxatowojw%2fiv2v8pbgygbv8%3d\&reserved=0 under a recent amendment to cl 31a https //aus01 safelinks protection outlook com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww legislation govt nz%2fregulation%2fpublic%2f1977%2f0037%2flatest%2fdlm6198227 html%3fsearch%3dsw 096be8ed81dcf0e3 class 25 se%26p%3d1\&data=05%7c01%7cjohn%40prioritycomms co nz%7c81ca1080650447d23e9808dbf5e83144%7cb2653b648f694bb09c25a5abacc6a8da%7c0%7c0%7c638374150046715850%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c3000%7c%7c%7c\&sdata=egmsp9cwt9pq3cpvnfrvcfheby2bd%2b6hfhcri%2blzvbc%3d\&reserved=0 , non opioid class c controlled drugs can be supplied by some prescribers, on three or more occasions at monthly or shorter intervals, for a maximum of three months however, veterinarians are not included in the list of practitioners who can issue these prescriptions