NURS 6521
Off Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
Acute Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Walden University
NURS 6521N: Advanced Pharmacology
Off Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
Off label drug use is becoming more common, mainly due to the lack of pediatric-
specific data regarding the dosing efficacy and safety of medications regularly prescribed to
children. This narrative will explain the circumstances under which children should be prescribed
drugs for off-label use. Also, the description of strategies to make the off-label use and dosage of
drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence.
Circumstance Children are Prescribed Off-Label Drugs
Off-label drugs are often used when the benefit outweighs the risk of the medication
being prescribed (Arcangelo et al., 2017). There are several circumstances where off-label drugs
are prescribed for pediatrics such as, antibiotic therapy for respiratory infection of prophylactic
for surgery, antihistamine use for asthma and respiratory infections, analgesics, antiemetics,
depressants, and psychotropics for mental illness (Cuzzolin, Zaccaron, Fanos, 2003).some of
those drugs includes drug like amoxicillin and antihistamines like mequitazine and desloratadine
which the benefit outweighs the risk as there is minimal risk associated with these drugs
(Palmaro et al., 2014).
Strategies for Safer Off-Label Drug Use and Dosage
As with any prescription drug safety consist of continued and frequent monitoring and
come with guidelines to follow, however, most drugs do not have guidelines on pediatric use
only approximates based on the child’s body surface area, weight, and other factors (Rosenthal &
Burchum, 2018). Drugs such as like prednisone and dexamethasone have the potential to impede
normal development in pediatrics as well as cause behavioral and cognitive changes
Off Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
Acute Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Walden University
NURS 6521N: Advanced Pharmacology
Off Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
Off label drug use is becoming more common, mainly due to the lack of pediatric-
specific data regarding the dosing efficacy and safety of medications regularly prescribed to
children. This narrative will explain the circumstances under which children should be prescribed
drugs for off-label use. Also, the description of strategies to make the off-label use and dosage of
drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence.
Circumstance Children are Prescribed Off-Label Drugs
Off-label drugs are often used when the benefit outweighs the risk of the medication
being prescribed (Arcangelo et al., 2017). There are several circumstances where off-label drugs
are prescribed for pediatrics such as, antibiotic therapy for respiratory infection of prophylactic
for surgery, antihistamine use for asthma and respiratory infections, analgesics, antiemetics,
depressants, and psychotropics for mental illness (Cuzzolin, Zaccaron, Fanos, 2003).some of
those drugs includes drug like amoxicillin and antihistamines like mequitazine and desloratadine
which the benefit outweighs the risk as there is minimal risk associated with these drugs
(Palmaro et al., 2014).
Strategies for Safer Off-Label Drug Use and Dosage
As with any prescription drug safety consist of continued and frequent monitoring and
come with guidelines to follow, however, most drugs do not have guidelines on pediatric use
only approximates based on the child’s body surface area, weight, and other factors (Rosenthal &
Burchum, 2018). Drugs such as like prednisone and dexamethasone have the potential to impede
normal development in pediatrics as well as cause behavioral and cognitive changes
