Inadequacies of Statutory Drug Compendia Also Affect the Mental Health Field
Authors: Richard P. Paczynski
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Letters1 September 2009Inadequacies of Statutory Drug Compendia Also Affect the Mental Health FieldRichard P. Paczynski, MD and Stefan P. Kruszewski, MDRichard P. Paczynski, MDFrom Stefan P. Kruszewski & Associates, Harrisburg, PA 17110.Search for more papers by this author and Stefan P. Kruszewski, MDFrom Stefan P. Kruszewski & Associates, Harrisburg, PA 17110.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-5-200909010-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The articles by Abernethy and colleagues (1), Tillman and coworkers (2), and Gillick (3) and the accompanying editorial by Sox (4) on the statutory drug compendia are welcome additions to the literature on this important topic. In particular, we applaud the work of Abernethy and colleagues in solidly identifying some of the inadequacies of the compendia in evaluation of off-label indications for products used in oncology. We have some comments that extend concern to the mental health field.Prompted by recent critical data (5) pertaining to off-label prescribing, and by related resource utilization and cost concerns in ...References1. Abernethy AP, Raman G, Balk EM, Hammond JM, Orlando LA, Wheeler JL, et al. Systematic review: reliability of compendia methods for off-label oncology indications. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:336-43. [PMID: 19221366] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Tillman K, Burton B, Jacques LB, Phurrough SE. Compendia and anticancer therapy under Medicare. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:348-50. [PMID: 19221368] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Gillick MR. Controlling off-label medication use. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:344-7. [PMID: 19221367] LinkGoogle Scholar4. Sox HC. Evaluating off-label uses of anticancer drugs: time for a change [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:353-4. [PMID: 19221369] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Walton SM, Schumock GT, Lee KV, Alexander GC, Meltzer D, Stafford RS. Prioritizing future research on off-label prescribing: results of a quantitative evaluation. Pharmacotherapy. 2008;28:1443-52. [PMID: 19025425] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Klasco R, ed. DRUGDEX System. New York: Thomson Reuters; 2006. Updated 2008. Google Scholar7. IMS Health. Top Therapeutic Classes by U.S. Sales. 2008. Accessed at www.imshealth.com/deployedfiles/imshealth/Global/Content/StaticFile/Top_Line_Data/2008_Top_Therapy_Classes_by_U.S._Sales.pdf on 23 July 2009. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Stefan P. Kruszewski & Associates, Harrisburg, PA 17110.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSystematic Review: Reliability of Compendia Methods for Off-Label Oncology Indications Amy P. Abernethy , Gowri Raman , Ethan M. Balk , Julia M. Hammond , Lori A. Orlando , Jane L. Wheeler , Joseph Lau , and Douglas C. McCrory Compendia and Anticancer Therapy Under Medicare Katherine Tillman , Brijet Burton , Louis B. Jacques , and Steve E. Phurrough Controlling Off-Label Medication Use Muriel R. Gillick Evaluating Off-Label Uses of Anticancer Drugs: Time for a Change Harold C. Sox Metrics 1 September 2009Volume 151, Issue 5Page: 364-365KeywordsAntipsychoticsDrugsErythropoietinForecastingHealth careHealth care utilizationMedicareMonoclonal antibodiesObservational studiesPsychiatry and mental health ePublished: 1 September 2009 Issue Published: 1 September 2009 CopyrightCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...