Drug Piracy II: Quality, Efficacy and Safety Issues Related to Drug-Pirated Products

("compounded drugs") and the Claims Associated with Them

Abstract

Veterinarians have enjoyed a remarkably positive reputation with the public. However, the use of pirated drugs has put that good reputation dangerously at risk. These drugs may be less expensive, but they also are of poor quality, highly variable in nature, and of unknowable content or stability. It follows, then, that use of pirated drugs removes the essential information in clinical pharmacology and application of therapeutics - i.e., what have you administered to the patient? With pirated drugs, neither you nor the pirate know what you have administered. Use of pirated drugs is, by definition, substandard veterinary care.