J McIntyre1, S Conroy, A Avery, H Corns, I Choonara. 1. Academic Division of Child Health (University of Nottingham), Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby DE22 3NE, UK. John.Mcintyre@nottingham.ac.uk
Abstract
AIM: To determine the incidence and nature of unlicensed and off label prescribing of drugs for children in general practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all prescriptions for one year involving children (aged 12 years or under) from a single suburban general practice in the English Midlands. Prescribed drugs were categorised as licensed, unlicensed (without a product licence), or used in an off label way (outside the terms of their product licence). RESULTS: During 1997 there were 3347 prescription items involving 1175 children and 160 different drugs. A total of 2828 (84. 5%) prescriptions were for licensed medicines used in a licensed way; 10 (0.3%) were for unlicensed medicines; and 351 (10.5%) were licensed medicines used in an off label way. For 158 (4.7%) the information was insufficient to determine licence status. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that a significant number of drugs prescribed for children by general practitioners are off label and highlights the anomalies and inadequacies of drug information for prescribers.
AIM: To determine the incidence and nature of unlicensed and off label prescribing of drugs for children in general practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all prescriptions for one year involving children (aged 12 years or under) from a single suburban general practice in the English Midlands. Prescribed drugs were categorised as licensed, unlicensed (without a product licence), or used in an off label way (outside the terms of their product licence). RESULTS: During 1997 there were 3347 prescription items involving 1175 children and 160 different drugs. A total of 2828 (84. 5%) prescriptions were for licensed medicines used in a licensed way; 10 (0.3%) were for unlicensed medicines; and 351 (10.5%) were licensed medicines used in an off label way. For 158 (4.7%) the information was insufficient to determine licence status. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that a significant number of drugs prescribed for children by general practitioners are off label and highlights the anomalies and inadequacies of drug information for prescribers.
Authors: S Conroy; I Choonara; P Impicciatore; A Mohn; H Arnell; A Rane; C Knoeppel; H Seyberth; C Pandolfini; M P Raffaelli; F Rocchi; M Bonati; G Jong; M de Hoog; J van den Anker Journal: BMJ Date: 2000-01-08
Authors: Reinhild Bücheler; Matthias Schwab; Klaus Mörike; Bernhard Kalchthaler; Hartmut Mohr; Helmut Schröder; Peter Schwoerer; Christoph H Gleiter Journal: BMJ Date: 2002-06-01
Authors: Suzie Ekins-Daukes; James S McLay; Michael W Taylor; Colin R Simpson; Peter J Helms Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Suzie Ekins-Daukes; Peter J Helms; Colin R Simpson; Michael W Taylor; James S McLay Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2004-05-14 Impact factor: 2.953