Off-label prescriptions occur when a physician assigns a drug to treat a condition that it is not approved for. In most instances there may be some preliminary evidence, but it still operates with an extra element of uncertainty. The CBC covered a report that criticized this practice for antipsychotic medications. The drugs are approved for disorders like schizophrenia, but have seen increased use for depression and other conditions that they are not approved for.

Using the drugs “off label’ for conditions other than their original approval is perfectly legal but causes concern among some experts. A 2001 report by the AHRQ concluded that about 21 percent of prescribed drug use was for conditions not indicated on the label.

Although the practice is legal, some groups believe that it exposes patients to significant side-effects without sufficient scientific evidence about the potential benefits.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Jan 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.