Drug group reviews

Pack of four German Shepherd Dogs tongues out ears up and alert

How we review medicines

  • Prepare a detailed outline that defines the questions we want to answer.

  • Perform a thorough literature search, including any official prescribing information, regulatory reports and promotional material.

  • Commission a review and critical appraisal of the evidence and preparation of the draft.

  • Circulate the draft to a panel of practising vets, topic specialists and other relevant commentators (such as regulatory authorities, professional organisations). We also invite comments from companies that market products mentioned in the draft. Commentators can challenge interpretation of the evidence, ask questions, raise points relevant to clinical practice and share insights and opinions.

  • Edit the draft to incorporate the comments.

  • Rigorous checks before the draft is published as a CPD module on the Veterinary Prescriber website. The draft is fully referenced and we check the facts against the original references and distinguish fact from opinion.

  • A medicine review includes a background describing the condition being treated; an outline of the pharmacology and rationale for use; a summary of the evidence on efficacy and safety (and comparatve efficacy and safety), what we do not know about the medicine (the remaining uncertainties); practical aspects (regulatory, dosage, ease of use, administration, monitoring, storage cost) and a conclusion.

These reviews aim to help with the choice of treatment. Below is a list of the group reviews we have published.

  • Insulins for cats and dogs: Caninsulin vs. ProZinc

  • Use of gabapentin and pregabalin for chronic pain in cats and dogs. November 2022

  • Functional urethral obstruction in male cats? Are urethral relaxants effective. August 2022

  • Pentosan polysulphate (Cartrophen Vet, Osteopen) and canine joint disease. September 2022

  • All-in-one cat parasiticides. April 2022

  • Making sense of flea and tick products. February 2021

  • Antibacterial eye products for cats, dogs and rabbits. November 2021

  • Antimicrobial ear products for dogs. November 2020

  • Oral antihistamines for allergies in dogs. March 2020

  • NSAIDs for chronic pain relief in cats. September 2019

  • Which NSAID? (cats and dogs) August 2018

  • Lepto vaccines - which should you choose? April 2018

Veterinary Prescribergabapentin, pregabalin, pentosan, Cartophen, osteopen, Felpreva, Nexgard Combo, Broadline, antibiotics, antihistamines, NSAIDs, Lepto vaccines, L4, L2, comparison, insulin, Caninsulin