Sourcing of emergency drugs

The VPIS has teamed up with Vets Now and CVS to  bring you the potentially life saving ToxBox  and Elixir. These services gives veterinary practices 24 hour access to drugs and products used in the emergency treatment of poisoning that they are most likely to need, but least likely to stock.

We also have a list of independent practices that stock emergency drugs

Toxbox

How does the ToxBox service work?

Specific drugs and products used to treat poisoning (listed to the right) are kept in stock at 16 selected Vets Now clinics across the UK. Veterinary practices urgently requiring these treatments can telephone the VPIS and be directed to their closest stock, where they can be purchased immediately.

The service is available 24 hours a day and callers do not need to be a Vets Now Member Practice to use the service.

Drugs will be supplied at cost (plus VAT), with a £25 (plus VAT) admin charge for dispensing.

Which treatments are available for purchase?

  • Activated charcoal – 1 litre slurry preparation
  • Apomorphine – 1ml vial
  • European adder antivenom

  • Fresh frozen plasma

  • Methocarbamol (Robaxin®) – 750mg tablets (a centrally acting muscle relaxant useful for permethrin and metaldehyde poisoning amongst others)
  • Acetylcysteine – 10ml vial (the antidote for paracetamol toxicity)
  • Intralipid® – 100ml and 500ml bag of 20% solution

Elixir

How does the Elixir service work?

Specific drugs and products used to treat poisoning (listed to the right) are kept in stock at 22 selected CVS clinics across the UK. Veterinary practices urgently requiring these treatments can telephone the VPIS and be directed to their closest stock, where they can be purchased immediately.

The service is available 24 hours a day but there may be separate daytime and out of hour’s numbers to call.

Drugs will be supplied at cost price (plus VAT), with a £20 (plus VAT) admin charge for dispensing (with discounts for CVS, VetShare buying group practices and MiNightVet member practices; which will be managed by the host practice )

Which treatments are available for purchase?

  • Viper Venom Antitoxin – 5ml

  • Intralipid 20% solution

  • Naloxone Hydrochloride, pre-fillied syringe, 1MG/1ML

  • Acetylcysteine – 10ml vial (the antidote for paracetamol toxicity)

  • Methocarbamol Tablets, film coated tablets 750mg (a centrally acting muscle relaxant useful for permethrin and metaldehyde poisoning amongst others)

  • Vitamin K1 Comprime 50mg tablets

  • Vitamin K1 Injection 5ml

  • Activated charcoal soluble

  • Emedog 1MG/ML solution for injection

  • Frozen Plasma

Emergency drug locations

For details of a Toxbox, Elixir practice or an independent practice on the map above please call us on 0207 305 5055