European journal of clinical pharmacology
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Jul 2004
Off-label prescribing to children in primary care: retrospective observational study.
To investigate the extent and pattern of off-label prescribing to children in primary care throughout Scotland. ⋯ This is the largest and most detailed study to date of paediatric off-label prescribing in primary care within the UK. Such off-label prescribing likely occurs as the result of several factors including a failure to update licensing information with currently accepted practice and confusion or unawareness of the licensing recommendations, further compounded by a lack of clinical trials data and suitable formulations for medicines commonly prescribed to young children and adolescents.