Off-label Prescribing Practice in Pediatric Settings: Pros and Cons

Abstract

Aysha Muthanna Shanshal, Saad Abdulrahman Hussain

Off-label prescribing of medication for pediatric patients is a commonly followed practice attributed to the unavailability of data of efficacy, safety, and dosing of medicines regularly prescribed for children. This review article sheds light on the worldwide incidence of off-label prescribing practice, and the most commonly prescribed medicines through this approach. We performed a literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar. The search terms include "off-label prescribing", "Pediatrics", "Drug safety", and "Adverse reactions". Publications were eligible for inclusion when enrolled children < 18 years of age, defined off-label prescription in the article and included the frequency and types of medication prescribed off-label. The frequency of off-label prescriptions does not differ widely between the reviewed studies based on the locally reported data. However, the frequency and awareness related to this practice in developed countries seem higher than the others. In conclusion, off-label prescribing in pediatrics remains a common approach followed by medical practitioners in pediatric settings.