Nizhny Novgorod residents were warned about dangerous veterinary medicines on online marketplaces.

      January 13, 2026 10:07 Society

      A dangerous trend is rapidly spreading among Russian zoomers: they are ordering veterinary drugs through marketplaces and using them not as intended. This was reported on his Telegram channel by Alexey Nikonov, editor-in-chief of the MIA "Statsionar-press."

      According to him, the drugs in question contain gabapentin — a substance used in veterinary medicine to treat animals, while in human medicine it is dispensed strictly by prescription and used to treat epilepsy. At the same time, gabapentin can have an intoxicating effect on humans, which attracts teenagers and young people. In reviews on marketplaces they share their experiences, euphemistically describing the "behavior of the doggies," which after taking the drug become "sociable and kind."

      Under current legislation, in "human" pharmacies medications containing gabapentin can be purchased only with a prescription. However, in the veterinary sector such medicines are not yet subject to strict control. Only from March 1 will they be placed under specific quantitative accounting, and their dispensing will also become prescription-only.

      Nikonov added that marketplaces have promised to strengthen control over the sale of such products, but he also reminded readers that responsibility for the improper use of drugs lies with the buyers.

      The expert urged parents to pay attention to their children's behavior and to talk with them about the risks associated with such experiments.

      Earlier it was reported that the Rosselkhoznadzor directorate for the Nizhny Novgorod region blocked 232 illegal websites selling veterinary drugs.

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