Veterinarians could lose access to ketamine if drug is reclassified

摘要

WHO is mulling international control of veterinary anesthetic, categorization as highly abused substance.Ketamine hydrochloride is in the spotlight again as the World Health Organization (WHO) was scheduled to discuss the drug during a committee meeting Nov. 16-20 in Geneva. Currently a schedule 3 drug in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act, ketamine could be changed to schedule 1 internationally, which designates high risk for abuse and no acknowledged therapeutic value. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) considers ketamine critical to the practice of veterinary medicineand is lobbying for continued use by members of the profession.