title: [Evaluation of Off-label Use of Oral Glucocorticoids in Outpatients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the off-label use of oral glucocorticoids in outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The information of outpatient glucocorticoids prescriptions from January 1st to June 30th in 2012 were collected from the information system in our hospital, then the software of Excel was employed to statistically analyze the data including the amount of drugs used in different departments,as well as the age, sex, and diagnosis of the patients. The diagnoses were compared with those included in the labels approved by China Food and Drug Administration and US Food and Drug Administration and domestic and foreign guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that 16.53% of the cases were off-label use,and dexamethasone had the highest proportion (60.50%) of off-label use. Most of the off-label use had evidence support, such as multiple myeloma and myasthenia gravis, while some cases did not, such as epilepsy and sudden deafness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of off-label use should be further strengthened to promote the safe and rational use of glucocorticoids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Xiao-li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: DU
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: Yu-xuan
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.
authors.forename: De-zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002681:China; D004827:Epilepsy; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D056687:Off-Label Use; D010045:Outpatients
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids