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Off-label prescribing in a French hospital

Pharmacy World & Science volume 29, pages 97–100 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

In 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.

Method

The study was conducted on a Wednesday in November 2004. Prescribing was prospectively assessed on the basis of conformity with the marketing authorizations.

Results

A 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.

Conclusion

Off-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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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Pharmacy Department, Saint-Joseph Hospital Foundation, 185 rue Raymond Losserand, 75014, Paris, France

    Audrey Cras, Marie-Agnès Conscience, Nathalie Lopez, Isabelle Tersen & Yvonnick Bezie

  2. Rheumatology Department, Saint-Joseph Hospital Foundation, 185 rue Raymond Losserand, 75014, Paris, France

    Gérald Rajzbaum

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, 20-40 rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France

    Agnès Lillo-Le Louët

Authors
  1. Audrey Cras
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  2. Marie-Agnès Conscience
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  3. Gérald Rajzbaum
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  4. Agnès Lillo-Le Louët
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  5. Nathalie Lopez
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  6. Isabelle Tersen
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  7. Yvonnick Bezie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yvonnick Bezie.

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Cras, A., Conscience, MA., Rajzbaum, G. et al. Off-label prescribing in a French hospital. Pharm World Sci 29, 97–100 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-006-9064-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-006-9064-0

Keywords

  • Adverse drug reactions
  • France
  • Hospital
  • Off-label prescribing
  • Prescribing