Author: Anuprita D. Patkar
Abstract The American
Medical Association (AMA) has estimated that as many as 40 percent of all prescriptions are issued for off label use. Off-label prescribing is considered to be clinically beneficial and rational in certain life-threatening situations. However, off-label use can pose risks to patients in terms of adverse drug events as well as contribute to rising pharmaceutical costs. The anti-anemic drugs
erythropoietin and darbepoetin are costly, and there are significant off-label uses for these drugs some of which are not supported with clinical evidence, hence were selected as study drugs. Our study goals included quantification of the prevalence rate and
appropriateness of off…
