enamel of children under the age of 8. It has been proven that bone growth of children is altered
when given doses of tetracycline, therefore, causing growth development problems. The use of
oxygen therapy to improve breathing for babies in incubators was a widely accepted treatment as
far back as the 1930s. In the 1940s, increases in dosage and length of exposure of oxygen were
gradually accepted without safety research. The incidence of retrolental fibroplasia suddenly
increased, but it was suggested that prematurity of the babies was the cause of the condition.
Years later there was a definitive study that linked increased oxygen use with the development of
retrolental fibroplasia and blindness in premature babies (Zito, 2008).
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retrieved from
COLLAPSE
INITIAL POST
Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
The term ‘off-label’ refers to a drug that its usage is not
specified in the FDA's approved packaging label. It occurs in the
case of rare diseases and cancer when all other approved options
have been exhausted and yielded unproductive results. An example
of Off-label prescription is indicated when a drug which is not FDA
approved for a child’s diagnosis or age is being taken by the child
(WebMD, n.d). Off-label prescription lack information and has been
associated with adverse drug events because vital information
regarding the drug’s efficacy, proper use, dosing criteria, drug-drug
interactions and medication safety are usually omitted (Bazzano et
al., 2009). As much as possible, it is advisable to use drugs that
have FDA approval. Whenever providers decide to use off-label
prescriptions, they are expected to show the benefit and reason for
their choice (Mayhew, 2009). However, some medications like
Albuterol which were previously used as off-label medications in
children indicated serious side effects associated with their use. For
example, Cisapride used as an off-label medication in neonates for
gastric motility; Promethazine received a black box warning for


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