Survey of unlicensed and off label drug use in paediatric wards in European countries. Issue 7227 (8th January 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Conroy, Sharon; Choonara, Imti; Impicciatore, Piero; Mohn, Angelika; Arnell, Henrik; Rane, Anders; Knoeppel, Carmen; Seyberth, Hannsjoerg; Pandolfini, Chiara; Raffaelli, Maria Pia; Rocchi, Francesca; Bonati, Maurizio; Jong, Geert't; de Hoog, Matthijs; van den Anker, John
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 320:Issue 7227(2000)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2000-01-08
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7227.79
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To determine the extent of use of unlicensed and off label drugs in children in hospital in five European countries. Design: Prospective study of drugs administered to children in general paediatric medical wards over four weeks. Setting: Children's wards in five hospitals (one each in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands). Subjects: Children aged 4 days to 16 years admitted to general paediatric medical wards. Main outcome measure: Proportion of drugs that were used in an unlicensed or off label manner. Results: 2262 drug prescriptions were administered to 624 children in the five hospitals. Almost half of all drug prescriptions (1036; 46%) were either unlicensed or off label. Of these 1036, 872 were off label and 164 were unlicensed. Over half of the patients (421; 67%) received an unlicensed or off label drug prescription. Conclusions: Use of off label or unlicensed drugs to treat children is widespread. This problem is likely to affect children throughout Europe and requires European action.