WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
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The objective of this study was to analyze medication use in a medium-sized academic hospital pediatric intensive care unit over a 1-year period and identify medications, medication classes, and age categories that would benefit most from pediatric drug trials. ⋯ Pediatric off-label medication use continues to be prevalent. In the pediatric critical care population, most medications are not properly tested for pediatric use. The federal government passed the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) in 2002 to encourage pediatric drug studies. However, the medication classes specified for further testing do not reflect the critical care population. Further studies are necessary to delineate the medications and medication classes that need study the most.