Gabapentin Security in the VTH

Implementation Date: 10/24/2022

Date of Last Revision: 10/24/2022

Next Review Due: 10/23/2025

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: N/A

Reviewed by VTH Board: N/A

 

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

To limit the potential for misuse and/or diversion, the Medication Dispensary is imposing several guidelines to follow with gabapentin.

Guidelines

While gabapentin has not been classified as a controlled substance on a federal level, gabapentin is a monitored drug in the state of Illinois, and the VTH will be closely monitoring and regulating gabapentin prescriptions. 

Procedure (if applicable)

1. In-patient use: obtain gabapentin per-dose from the Cubex machines. Medication Dispensary staff will stock unit dose gabapentin 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 300mg and 100mg/ml compounded solution, as applicable. The Dispensary also requires proper recording in Cubex for wasting gabapentin. 
2. Out-patient use: Once a prescription has been entered in the HIS (Health Information System), dispensary staff will fill these and hold them in the dispensary. The client must be physically here (in the VTH), and ready to leave with the patient before we can release the gabapentin. Medication Dispensary staff will have an additional prescription sticker that needs to be dated and initialed to verify who has picked up the gabapentin. 
3. After-hour pickup: Medication Dispensary will hold the gabapentin prescription in the dispensary. If a client has arrived while the dispensary is closed, a doctor with dispensary swipe access will have to enter to obtain this. The medication will need to be signed out the same way as above.
4. Mailing gabapentin: Following our mail-out procedures, the Medication Dispensary will additionally require a signature upon delivery. Clients shall be informed of this signature required and adjust shipping options appropriately (i.e. standard ground or overnight to accommodate when an individual will be able to sign for the package). 
5. Wasting / disposal of gabapentin: After recording waste in Cubex machine, place waste in proper disposal area (i.e. lockbox for dispensary staff to collect) or bring to dispensary.
   Dispensary staff: Dispose of gabapentin in white waste buckets.

Definitions (if applicable)

HIS: Health Information System

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic