Medetomidine (CAS 86347-14-0): storage and disposal
A potent sedative for dogs and cats, medetomidine reaches veterinary practices as an injection, normally in a multi-dose vial. As classified, the substance is fatal if swallowed or inhaled, may cause drowsiness or dizziness, damages organs and is very toxic to aquatic life. An injection is dilute and may be less hazardous, but cannot be assumed safe. Whether a vial has been opened, and how much is left, are what decide how it is listed.
- CAS number
- 86347-14-0
- Form
- Solid
- Storage class
- Toxic
- Signal word
- Danger
- Usual EWC code
- 16 05 06*
Acute toxicity
Serious health hazard
Hazardous to the environment
What to do this week
- Check the label is readable and write down the opened date if it is not already there.
- Check it is stored as toxic stock and apart from the items listed under "Do not store with".
- If you no longer need it, add it to your disposal list so it goes on the next collection.
Safe storage in a school or lab
Glass multi-dose vials with a rubber bung and a crimped metal cap are how it normally arrives, and a practice may also hold its reversal agent atipamezole on the same shelf. Near-identical small vials from different suppliers are easy to confuse, and that is the mistake worth designing out: keep the two in separate, marked sections. A locked cupboard with a stock record suits it, in a part of the practice away from staff food and drink, and away from acids and oxidisers. Mark the date of first use on the label when a vial is opened. Spent vials still hold a residue, so they should not be left loose on a consulting room worktop or in a tray of used items.
How to tell it has deteriorated
A bung with many puncture marks is what you usually see first on a working vial, along with a handwritten first-use date, or the lack of one. The injection itself should be clear and colourless, and it gives few visual signs of ageing. So the printed expiry date and the opening date are more reliable than the appearance of the liquid. Cloudiness, particles or a coloured tint are not normal and should be noted. Leakage around the crimp, dried residue on the cap or a label that has been smudged by repeated handling also need recording. Practices often find an out of date vial pushed to the back of a cupboard when a new strength or supplier replaced it.
How it must be disposed of
By specialist collection only. It never goes down the drain or into general waste. It is normally packed in a toxic laboratory pack with compatible chemicals.
A veterinary medicine is assessed against the medicinal waste entries, including 18 02 08 for other medicines and 18 02 07* where the medicine meets the relevant hazardous medicinal classification. The formulation and classification must be checked before confirming the code. Pure solid held by a research group is a different case, normally 16 05 06*. Record the product name and strength, how many vials there are and how much roughly remains in each, as a part-used vial is what usually gets miscounted. Very toxic to aquatic life, it must never be rinsed out into a sink or drain. Vials should not go into a general waste bin or a skip, and nobody should try to treat the contents first. Any syringes already drawn up need flagging separately, and anything already in a sharps bin should be mentioned.
| EWC code, laboratory chemicals | 16 05 06* |
|---|---|
| Discarded organic chemical, not a laboratory pack | 16 05 08* |
| Veterinary setting | 18 02 08 |
| Hazardous waste | Yes |
The code depends on where the waste came from and what it is mixed with. Use the waste code finder to see why.
Do not store with
- OxidiserToxic and oxidising stock are stored apart. A reaction could release toxic vapours.
- AcidToxic stock is stored apart from acids. Several toxic salts release toxic gas in contact with acid.
Named chemicals to keep apart
- Acetic acidToxic stock is stored apart from acids. Several toxic salts release toxic gas in contact with acid.
- Calcium hypochloriteToxic and oxidising stock are stored apart. A reaction could release toxic vapours.
- Hydrochloric acidToxic stock is stored apart from acids. Several toxic salts release toxic gas in contact with acid.
- Hydrogen peroxideToxic and oxidising stock are stored apart. A reaction could release toxic vapours.
- Nitric acidToxic stock is stored apart from acids. Several toxic salts release toxic gas in contact with acid.
- Potassium nitrateToxic and oxidising stock are stored apart. A reaction could release toxic vapours.
- Potassium permanganateToxic and oxidising stock are stored apart. A reaction could release toxic vapours.
- Sulfuric acidToxic stock is stored apart from acids. Several toxic salts release toxic gas in contact with acid.
Common quantities we collect
Usually held as: injection.
Part-used bottles and full containers are both fine. Tell us the size and how many, and an estimate is enough for a first price.
Where it is commonly held
Hazard statements
- H300 Fatal if swallowed.
- H330 Fatal if inhaled.
- H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
- H370 Causes damage to organs.
- H372 Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
- H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Precautionary statements
- P260 Do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
- P261 Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
- P264 Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling.
- P270 Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- P273 Avoid release to the environment.
- P284 In case of inadequate ventilation wear respiratory protection.
- P301+P316 IF SWALLOWED: Get emergency medical help immediately.
- P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
- P308+P316 IF exposed or concerned: Get emergency medical help immediately.
- P316 Get emergency medical help immediately.
- P319 Get medical help if you feel unwell.
- P320 Specific treatment is urgent (see supplemental first aid instruction on this label).
- P321 Specific treatment (see supplemental first aid instruction on this label).
- P330 Rinse mouth.
- P391 Collect spillage.
- P403+P233 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
- P405 Store locked up.
- P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local, regional, national and international regulations.
Substance as classified, dilutions may differ.
Questions
Can part-used vials be collected along with unopened stock?
Yes, as long as they are listed honestly. Give the number of vials and a rough idea of how much each one holds, and say which are opened. Keep the bungs and caps in place and do not combine the remaining liquid into one vial to make the list look shorter.
Should the reversal agent be listed with medetomidine?
List it as its own item if you are also disposing of atipamezole. It is a different medicine, and it should not be counted under medetomidine. Separate lines on your request avoid confusion, and they make it far easier to reconcile the collection against your practice stock record later.
Our opened vial has no first-use date on it. Does it have to go?
Whether a vial stays in use is a clinical decision for your practice. If it is being withdrawn, write 'first use date unknown' on your list, keep it locked until collected and give the printed expiry date. Appearance is a poor guide here, since the solution shows few visible signs.