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 Press Release

Unconventional use of drugs


Wednesday 15th July 2009 HCFI: Heart Care Foundation released a list of common drugs used unconventionally for other conditions than approved by FDA. Off label use of drugs is a common practice all over the world said Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India, Director IMA Research Wing and the President of the forthcoming BSNL Dil Ka Darbar.

  1. Asthma drug for smell disorder: An asthma drug, theophylline, shows promise in restoring a sense of smell to those who have lost that precious ability. About 20 million people in the United States have some degree of hyposmia, or loss of the sense of smell, affecting their ability to enjoy the flavor of artichokes and the fragrance of azaleas. Any number of things can cause the problem. The most common causes are viruses, head trauma, severe allergies or some kind of anatomic obstruction in the nose or nasal polyps. According to a study in the June issue of the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, there are few effective treatments out there.

  2. Epilepsy drug for wound: the common epilepsy drug phenytoin now is used to heal wounds as it cause hypertrophy of the granulation tissue. The main side effect of the drug gingival hyperplasia is now used as a therapy point.

  3. BP drug for kidney stones: Nifedipine the common kidney drug is now used to pass out small ureteric stones smaller than 10 mm.

  4. ED drug for COPD: Viagra the erectile drug now has been used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD.

  5. Depression drug for pre mature ejaculation: The  SSRI drug sertraline is approved as an anti depressant. It is also commonly prescribed off-label to help men suffering from  premature ejaculation.

  6. Cancer drug for pregnancy: Methotrexate, approved for the treatment of  choriocarcinoma, is frequently used for the medical treatment of an unruptured ectopic pregnancy.

  7. Fit drug for tremors: Gabapentin, approved for treatment of fits and post herpetic neuralgia in adults, is used off-label for bipolar disorder, essential tremors, hot flashes, migraine, neuropathic pains, phantom limb and restlessleg syndromes.