• Audrey Cras, Marie-Agnès Conscience, Gérald Rajzbaum, Agnès Lillo-Le Louët, Nathalie Lopez, Isabelle Tersen, and Yvonnick Bezie.
• Pharmacy Department, Saint-Joseph Hospital Foundation, 185 rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Paris, France.
• Pharm World Sci. 2007 Apr 1;29(2):97-100.

ObjectiveIn contrast to paediatrics patients, data concerning the extent of off-label prescribing for adult patients are limited. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of off-label drug use for adult patients in a French general hospital.MethodThe study was conducted on a Wednesday in November 2004. Prescribing was prospectively assessed on the basis of conformity with the marketing authorizations.ResultsA total of 1341 prescriptions for 192 hospitalized patients were analysed. Twenty three per cent of the prescriptions were off-label. Among all patients, 70% received at least one off-label medicine. Most off-label prescriptions were related to an unapproved indication (75%). The main other reasons were dosage (14%) and dosing schedule (9%). Anti-thrombotic and anti-ulcer agents were found on more than 40% of the off-label prescriptions.ConclusionOff-label prescriptions occur frequently in the hospital and often alternatives with the proper marketing authorizations are available. An increased involvement of hospital pharmacists should reduce the incidence of off-label prescribing and thus contribute to patient safety and possibly cost reduction.

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