Posted by Elizabeth on May 12, 2001, at 20:07:10
In reply to Re: Whats... and Drug Seeking Behavior » kazoo, posted by dougb on May 11, 2001, at 17:05:54
> My GP told me that he prescribes 'off-label' every day, He says that many off label uses of meds do not make it into the PDR due to economic reasons
Yes. The only AED that was ever labeled for bipolar disorder, for example, is Depakote. Tegretol never made it, and Lamictal is being studied. Lithium augmentation for unipolar depression is off-label. So is the use of psychomotor stimulants such as Ritalin, and, similarly, of antidepressants such as Wellbutrin for ADHD. MAOIs are some of the most effective drugs for panic disorder and social phobia, but they're only labelled for nonmelancholic depression (they work for melancholia too, BTW!). Imipramine, the first drug ever used for panic disorder (and the drug that was used to "pharmacologically dissect" panic disorder from other types of anxiety disorders), is not labeled for this use. Meridia, which is both chemically and pharmacodynamically similar to Effexor, is marketed as an antiobesity drug (of all things). SSRIs have a variety of FDA-approved indications, but they all are probably about equally effective for depression, panic disorder, bulimia, PMS, etc. Luvox and Anafranil aren't even labeled for depression or panic disorder (only for OCD), although both have been used for depression and PD for years in Europe.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:61760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010507/msgs/62664.html