Assignment: Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics

Assignment: Off-Label
Drug Use in Pediatrics
The unapproved use of approved drugs,
also called off-label use, with children is quite common. This is because
pediatric dosage guidelines are typically unavailable, since very few drugs
have been specifically researched and tested with children.
When treating children, prescribers
often adjust dosages approved for adults to accommodate a child’s weight.
However, children are not just “smaller” adults. Adults and children process
and respond to drugs differently in their absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion.
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Children even respond differently during stages
from infancy to adolescence. This poses potential safety concerns when prescribing
drugs to pediatric patients. As an advanced practice nurse, you have to be
aware of safety implications of the off-label use of drugs with this patient
group.
To Prepare
Review the interactive media piece in this week’s
Resources and reflect on the types of drugs used to treat pediatric
patients with mood disorders.
Reflect on situations in which children should be
prescribed drugs for off-label use.
Think about strategies to make the off-label use and
dosage of drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence. Consider
specific off-label drugs that you think require extra care and attention
when used in pediatrics.
By Day 5 of Week 11
Write a 1-page narrative in APA format that addresses the following:
Explain the circumstances under which children should
be prescribed drugs for off-label use. Be specific and provide examples.
Describe strategies to make the off-label use and
dosage of drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence. Include
descriptions and names of off-label drugs that require extra care and
attention when used in pediatrics.
Reminder: The College of Nursing requires
that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and
references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center offers an
example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm).
All papers submitted must use this formatting.

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