Even pets can’t escape drug contamination

And it gets worse. Even Fido isn’t safe.

Pharmalot reports that a drug called Clomicalm — a treatment for separation anxiety in dogs — was one of the drugs flagged for potential problems at the Nebraska Novartis plant.

Novartis sent letters to veterinarians instructing them to open Clomicalm bottles to look for tablets that are broken, or incorrect in color, size, or shape.

But these letters went out nearly three weeks after Novartis informed doctors that human meds might be contaminated.

So…what was the holdup?

Pharmalot notes that Novartis “was aware of the problems for months” and “suspended production weeks ago.”

When Pharmalot asked Novartis about the delay, the company responded with a letter that didn’t address the timing of the notices sent to vets. But the letter claimed, “We have no reason to believe that there were any mix-ups related to Clomicalm on the packaging line.”

No reason to believe? Then why send the notice to vets?

That question is answered in the vet notice, which states there is a “rare possibility” that a different medicine might be found in the Clomicalm bottles.

Hmmm… Does a “rare possibility” equal “no reason to believe”?

I guess if you’re a drug company exec it’s par for the course — which is where they’re probably spending time while you’re at the emergency vet.

Sources:
“What Dogs? Novartis, Vets and Product Mix-Ups” Ed Silverman, Pharmalot, 1/31/12, pharmalot.com