Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
Off-label prescribing is when a physician gives you a drug that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved to treat a condition different than your condition. This practice is legal and common. In fact, one in five prescriptions written today are for off-label use.
—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
For this Assignment, you consider these questions and others as you explore FDA-approved (“on label”) pharmacological treatments, non-FDA-approved (“off-label”) pharmacological treatments, and nonpharmacological treatments for disorders in children and adolescents.
Sample Solution
Off-label prescribing is a common practice in pediatric healthcare settings and can be an important tool for providing appropriate treatment for children and adolescents. While the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only approves certain medications to treat specific conditions, clinicians sometimes need to use drugs off label due to limited options or because they believe that a drug may better suit the patient’s needs than the approved alternatives (Khan et al., 2019). For example, the FDA has only approved one medication specifically to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however there are many other medications which have been used off label successfully with this population such as methylphenidate or amphetamines (Brown et al., 2018).
In addition to pharmacological treatments, nonpharmacological interventions can also provide effective relief from symptoms of various disorders in children and adolescents. Behavioral therapy approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy have demonstrated efficacy in treating mood disorders like depression or anxiety, while evidence-based lifestyle modifications can be useful for addressing issues related to obesity or sleep problems (Harvey & Beaury 2020). Additionally, physical activity programs have been shown to improve overall functioning among those diagnosed with ADHD by helping them manage their impulsivity and concentration difficulties more effectively (Banaschewski et al., 2017).
Overall, both on-label and off-label pharmacological treatments as well as nonpharmacologic interventions can play an important role when it comes to managing various mental health disorders among pediatric patients. By understanding how each approach works differently depending on the individual’s needs we can ensure that our young patients receive the most comprehensive care possible.
