A brief analysis of parenteral medicines delivered in community pharmacies for off-label use in pediatrics

Abstract

Objectives. The current paper aims to obtain an overview regarding the use of parenteral medicines recommended for the pediatric sector and delivered in Romanian community pharmacies. Materials and methods. A retrospective observational study was developed, based on a questionnaire which was distributed in community pharmacies in Romania. Results. The parenteral medicines were delivered in 100 community pharmacies which partake in the study, and which are distributed in 22 counties in Romania. The total number of parenteral medicines considered in the study were aimed for pediatric use and they represented approximately 5% of the total number of medicines prescribed for children delivered in the respective pharmacies. Of these, most of them are medicines authorized for adults, delivered for off-label use, by other routes of administration, in their original form or reformulated in the form of other pharmaceutical preparations, during the compounding activity in the pharmacy. Conclusions. The parenteral medications most prescribed for pediatric use and delivered in community pharmacies are injectable solutions and powders for parenteral use. They are used as off-label medication in children, by other routes of administration, both to capitalize the therapeutic action of the active principle, and also as a vehicle for other medications with oral route or external route of administration.

Keywords

• pediatric care
• off-label drugs
• parenteral administration
• community pharmacy