Off Label Uses for Medication that FDA Doesn't Want You to Know About

While each medication goes through a grueling process with the FDA to gain approval, only ONE approved use is granted for a medication by the FDA. After a medication gains the approval of the FDA, then the manufacturer creates a brochure that lists the APPROVED usage and the recommended dosage that should be given to patients. The representatives from the pharmaceutical company brings samples of the medication and the brochure to various doctor's offices and discusses the approved only usage and the recommended dosages.

For many physicians, this is the only exposure to the new drug that they will receive. They will dole the medication out to patients in the way it is outlined in the literature they received from the manufacturer. They will taper up in the way the brochure explains and usually stop at the manufacturer's recommended does (which usually tends to be on the high end).What's wrong with this, You may ask. It's a good thing that the doctor is sticking to the guidelines set forth by the FDA and then distributed by the drug manufacturer right? No, it is exactly the opposite.

In Dr. Paul Corona's book, "Healing the Mind and Body", he discusses the how the FDA makes unqualified decisions with little to no medical basis in actual practice. He continues to describe the overwhelming grip that the FDA holds on pharmaceutical companies, forcing them to only disclose "on-label" uses for medications when there are many "off-label" uses that patients can and do benefit from.

What this means for physicians is that many new and effective medications are being overlooked as treatment options because their usage would be off-label. In today's lawsuit-happy times, some physicians shy away from using medications in any way other than the manufacturer's recommendations. Dr. Corona has found in his 15 years of practice, that many medications are MORE effective in treating conditions outside of what the FDA approved them for. When doctors have experience and knowledge regarding new medications, they can make educated and informed decisions regarding treatment options. Decisions that are in the best interest of the PATIENT.

The FDA has a strangle hold on the manufacturers of medications, keeping them from discussing any possible "off-label" uses for the medication other than the ONE FDA approved use. This means that other physicians, who do not have the experience that Dr. Corona has, may not be able to treat their patients to the best of their ability due to a lack of information due to the stringent FDA regulations.

Better hope your doctor knows what's up.