Off-Label Medication and Use of Unapproved Drugs

September 2016

Prashanthi Gummadi

TLDR Off-label drug use can be risky but sometimes beneficial when standard treatments fail.

Off-label drug use referred to the practice of prescribing medications in a manner not specified in the approved packaging label, which posed risks due to insufficient safety and efficacy information. Despite these risks, off-label prescribing could be beneficial, particularly when approved treatments failed. The review highlighted various drugs used off-label, such as Minoxidil for hair growth in hair loss patients, and others like Aripiprazole, Gabapentin, Amitriptyline, Propranolol, Risperidone, Sildenafil, and Clonidine, emphasizing the need for better understanding among physicians and pharmacists.

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Off-Label Medication and Use of Unapproved Drugs

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