February 13, 2014

expert reaction to the upgrade of ketamine to a Class B drug

The Government announced the recreational drug ketamine will be reclassified from a Class C to a Class B banned substance.

Prof Mark Bowen, Associate Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine, University of Nottingham, said:

“Ketamine is used on a daily basis for the anaesthesia of horses to facilitate all forms of surgery, including routine procedures as well as lifesaving procedures. It is widely considered to be the safest agent used in horses since it provides the smoothest onset and recovery from anaesthesia of all of the anaesthetic agents available in horses; because of the size and behaviour of horses, serious injury can occur during these periods as the horse lies down, or attempts to stand. In some cases the injuries sustained in these periods can be fatal, and therefore the choice of medicines used is of paramount importance.

“Ketamine use in horses is not associated with any of the diseases of the bladder that are reported when used as a recreational drug by people. Reclassification of Ketamine as a class B drug would not prevent its continued use in the horse, although it would result in increased regulation relating to the storage and recording of its use in all veterinary species. Since 2008, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has advised all vets to store and use ketamine as though these restrictions were already in force. The British Equine Veterinary Association has recently conducted a survey of its members demonstrating almost complete compliance with this advice. We will seek clarification relating to the storage of ketamine in vehicles, such that when vets attend emergencies they will still have access to this essential medicine without any delay that could occur if this was prevented.”