Meant for a specific condition, but prescribed to treat another. It's called off-label drug use...and doctors around the country are doing it for their patients. Robyn Haines tells us some benefits and potential dangers in today's Healthy Living.
International opera star Marquita Lister was diagnosed with Polymyositis. It attacks the lungs and muscles. A medical team at national rehabilitation hospital came up with an innovative form of therapy, including a drug normally used to treat lymphoma patients.
Doctors took a chance with the off-label drug use... and it paid off. Marquita pulled through. Experts say as many as one in five prescriptions in the u-s is used for something it's not approved for by the FDA. And it's perfectly legal.
Antipsychotic drugs are often prescribed for dementia-- anxiety drugs are used as sleep aids... And some cancer drugs for eye problems. Off-label drugs worked for Marquita, but they aren't safe in all cases. Studies show some anti-psychotics used to treat elderly patients with dementia did show benefits, but also increased risk of death.
Other studies found a drug used to help patients from bleeding uncontrollably during surgery, increased the odds of blood clots, when used off-label. There is a legal battle brewing right now between manufacturers and the FDA over the off-label rule. Manufacturers claim it violates their first amendment rights.
Monday, May 21 2012 11:11 PM EDT2012-05-22 03:11:23 GMT
We just got word from the Sheriff's Department that a major manhunt is underway right now in Roscommon County's Backus Township. The sheriff's department tells us they are looking for a man that escaped
We just got word from the Sheriff's Department that a major manhunt is underway right now in Roscommon County's Backus Township. The sheriff's department tells us they are looking for a man that escaped
Monday, May 21 2012 8:41 AM EDT2012-05-21 12:41:50 GMT
Three motorcyclists led deputies on a high speed chase through Montcalm County. Deputies tried to pull them over just before midnight on Friday in Ferris Township. All three refused to pull over, continuing
Three motorcyclists led deputies on a high speed chase through Montcalm County.
Monday, May 21 2012 11:48 AM EDT2012-05-21 15:48:16 GMT
A man is dead after losing control of his motorcycle over the weekend. The crash happened just after 8:00, Saturday night in East Bay Township. Deputies say the driver, James Ritter of Traverse City,
A man is dead after losing control of his motorcycle over the weekend. The crash happened just after 8:00, Saturday night in East Bay Township. Deputies say the driver, James Ritter of Traverse City,
Sunday, May 20 2012 6:31 PM EDT2012-05-20 22:31:01 GMT
The 40th Annual Blessing of the Bikes brought people from all over the country to Baldwin in Lake County. Bikers started lining the streets Friday and today was the culmination of the festivities with
The 40th Annual Blessing of the Bikes brought people from all over the country to Baldwin in Lake County. Bikers started lining the streets Friday and today was the culmination of the festivities with
Authorities in western Michigan say a car with six teenagers aboard went out of control and crashed on an interstate highway exit ramp, killing two of them and seriously injuring two others.
Authorities in western Michigan say a car with six teenagers aboard went out of control and crashed on an interstate highway exit ramp, killing two of them and seriously injuring two others.
Friday, May 18 2012 8:03 PM EDT2012-05-19 00:03:38 GMT
They issued a warrant for her arrest last spring, and since then she has been on the run. A former coworker says Kerrie Ann Gottschall stole the money when they worked at Pioneer/Cadillac Broach in Leroy
They issued a warrant for her arrest last spring, and since then she has been on the run. A former coworker says Kerrie Ann Gottschall stole the money when they worked at Pioneer/Cadillac Broach in Leroy
Monday, May 21 2012 4:37 PM EDT2012-05-21 20:37:29 GMT
Police need your help identifying a man who attempted to use a stolen credit card in Traverse City. It's believed, back in February, the man shown on your screen in the surveillance video broke into a
Police need your help identifying a man who attempted to use a stolen credit card in Traverse City. It's believed, back in February, the man shown on your screen in the surveillance video broke into a
Friday, May 18 2012 10:54 PM EDT2012-05-19 02:54:18 GMT
A statewide scam with victims right here in northern Michigan. The attorney general says a Holly woman ran a foreclosure-rescue scam. They believe she stole $250,000 from at least 60 victims. Rebecca
A statewide scam with victims right here in northern Michigan. The attorney general says a Holly woman ran a foreclosure-rescue scam. They believe she stole $250,000 from at least 60 victims. Rebecca
Saturday, May 19 2012 11:35 PM EDT2012-05-20 03:35:56 GMT
The D.N.R. reports that a wildfire on a munitions range at Camp Grayling is contained. It was reported around six p.m Saturday night, and covered about 80 acres before it was over. Some 35 firefighters
The D.N.R. reports that a wildfire on a munitions range at Camp Grayling is contained. It was reported around six p.m Saturday night, and covered about 80 acres before it was over. Some 35 firefighters
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