Off-label Use - Research Relating To Off-label Use

Research Relating To Off-label Use

According to a national random mail survey of 599 primary care physicians and 600 psychiatrists, there is a strong indication between a physician’s belief that a use is FDA-approved and the known evidence supporting that use, although almost half of physicians believed one off-label use that had little or no supporting evidence. This shows that there is a need for informing physicians about the evidence supporting off-label prescriptions, although the FDA only regulates drug marketing not drug prescribing.

• Alexander GC. Clinical prescribing (and off-label use) in a second-best world. Medical care. 2010;48:285-287. (Invited editorial)
• Tabarrok A. Assessing the FDA via the anomaly of off-label drug prescribing. Independent Review. 2000. V;1:25-53.
• Walton SM, Schumock GT, Lee KV, Alexander GC, Melzter DO, Stafford RS (2008). "Prioritizing medications for policy and research initiatives examining off-label prescribing". Pharmocotherapy 28: 1443–1452.
• Chen DT, Wynia MK, Moloney RM, Alexander GC (2009). "Physician knowledge of the FDA-approved indications of commonly prescribed drugs: results of a national survey". Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 18: 1–7. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122544649/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0.