Off the label, drugs are defined as the drugs that are not legally put in the chemistries or the market for official consumption. These are drugs whose administration to patients is not completely legalized by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). Lack of labeling of the drugs in is mainly to show that the drug is not safe for experimentation, especially for children. However, the drugs can be prescribed appropriately for usage. This only happens after a thorough investigation and numerous tests on the drugs to determine the possible outcomes on the particular drug when used on children. An off-label pediatric drug should not, therefore, be viewed as a bad drug, or its prescription should not be condemned. This is because its usage can still be validated and the results fully analyzed.
There has always been an increase in the usage of off-label drugs, particularly in the pediatric sections. This is, however, a very much discouraged practice and as a result, it can adversely affect the health of pediatric patients when wrongly administered. Statistics has it that of the 308 patients, they all received 777 prescriptions. Out of these prescriptions were 384 which is approximately 49% that was unlicensed off-label use. 291 which is equivalent to 76%, were off-label. The rate at which off-label drugs in the pediatric institutions use increases every day, some of the reasons being a great shortage of drugs in the institutions. Therefore, if the licensing laws do not change so that more drugs are prescribed to pediatric children in the pediatric institutions, then, it will mean that more off-label drugs will still be administered to the children. For this to occur effectively, the mutual communication between the specialist units and the local practitioners should be enhanced so that they can all ensure the safety and an effective prescription to children without any complications. Some of the drugs such as Claritin syrup, Luvox tablets Neurontin tablets and oral solutions, Ultane volatile liquid for inhalation and Pepcid tablets and injections are some of the off-label drugs that should be effectively used. Some of those drugs contain compounds that, if not taken in the right amount can alter the functioning of a person completely. Therefore, doctors and nurses should take cautions when administering the right quantities to the patients to avoid unnecessary health complications.
References
Engdahl, S. (2008). Prescription drugs. Detroit: Greenhaven Press/Gale Cengage Learning.
Loughlin, K. R., & Generali, J. A. (2006). The guide to off-label prescription drugs: New uses for FDA-approved prescription drugs. New York: Free Press.
