Acepromazine is a common drug in veterinary medicine, used primarily as a sedative. It comes in both pill and injectable forms and is something we use in one form or another on a daily basis. It's also been around for a long time, so it's something we're all very familiar with. Yet one of my techs showed me something quite surprising.
On the bottle of acepromazine there was a drug guide, something common to all medications. These guides discuss the pharmacology of the medication, including structure, common uses, dosages, adverse effects, and so on. Much to my surprise, this is what is printed on part of that label.
"Description: Acepromazine maleate USP, a potent neuroleptic agent with a low order of toxicity, is of particular value in the tranquilization of dogs, cats and horses. Its rapid action and lack of hypnotic effect are added advantages. According to Baker, the scope of possible applications for this compound in veterinary practice is only limited by the imagination of the practitioner."
Yes, that's a direct quote from the official label on the bottle, though the emphasis is mine. When I first read this I honestly couldn't believe it. I don't remember being taught how to use medications with imagination. Usually we have specific directions and indications of how to use each drug. But apparently with acepromazine we are free to let our imagination soar! Here are a few quick things I thought of....
* Put some on a person's seat to make them think it's urine (the solution is a deep yellow color).
* Write my name in the snow with a syringe of ace (same reason as above).
* Mix it with chlorhexidine (a blue disinfectant) to make pretty colors.
* Take a bottle of it and attach a fish tank pump to make a nice fountain.
* Use it in a magic potion to summon a faerie (hey, my imagination isn't limited by quirky things like so-called "reality").
Since we're now using at least some medications based on our imagination rather than specific guidelines, what imaginative things can any of you come up with for any drug in our formulary?
