Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39289932›Full record

SynthesisCurrent neuropharmacology2025

Exploring the Confluence of Animal Medicine and its Implications for Human Health: A Systematic Literature Review.

Josie Dunn, Fabrizio Schifano, Ed Dudley, Amira Guirguis

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current neuropharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Josie DunnMedical School, The Grove, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
Fabrizio SchifanoPsychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK.
Ed DudleyMedical School, The Grove, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
Amira GuirguisMedical School, The Grove, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe abuse of veterinary drugs has emerged as a concerning trend, with global fatalities on the rise. Our understanding of this phenomenon remains limited. This study aims to identify the veterinary drugs being misused, the reasons behind their misuse, and how they are obtained.

methodsUtilising PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, along with related grey literature, we applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework for data collection. Screening and cross-referencing yielded 66 relevant articles, encompassing case reports, surveys, reports, and systemic literature reviews. The analysis identified 28 distinct veterinary drugs being misused in humans, primarily falling into categories, e.g., α-2- and β-2-adrenergic receptor agonists, GABAergic receptor modulators, opioid receptor agonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. These drugs were used for various purposes, including recreational use, weight loss, bodybuilding, pain relief, and self-medication for stress-related symptoms.

resultsRoutes of administration predominantly included parenteral, oral, and inhalation methods. Veterinary workers/assistants and individuals connected to animals were identified as contributors to the misuse of these medications. Motivations for their utilisation ranged from affordability and accessibility to the ease of obtaining multiple prescriptions from various veterinary sources, often in conjunction with other illicit substances. Dependence and addiction were common outcomes of the misuse of veterinary medicines by humans.

conclusionOverall, this systematic review underscores the increasing popularity of veterinary prescription drug misuse despite being under-reported with limited available data. Healthcare professionals are urged to remain vigilant to potential overdose events involving these medications.

Indexed as

Drug MisuseSubstance-Related DisordersVeterinary DrugsVeterinary MedicineAnimalsHumansVeterinary Drugsanimal medicinesdiversion of medicinesdrug misuseself-medication.substance useVeterinary medicines

Identifiers

PMID39289932
PMCPMC12172238

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.