An update of antidote availability in veterinary medicine

Lack of commercially available antidotes for animals is an issue of signifi cant concern to the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. A few antidote s are available for food animals through extra-label use, regulatory discre tion and compounding. However, regulatory restrictions arising from human f ood safety concerns have limited the availability of food animal antidotes. Use of some antidotes in food animals requires establishment of an investi gational new animal drug application. Antidotes are generally more availabl e for non-food animals from several sources: approved animal drugs, extra-l abel use of approved animal and human drugs, regulatory discretion and comp ounding. Present alternatives are discussed as well as the need for legisla tion to increase antidote availability. Human food safety will always be an issue for food animal antidotes. Future availability of non-food animal an d food animal antidotes will depend on several mechanisms and may include t he establishment of veterinary antidote depots. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in identifying and implementing these mechanisms.