Hot Topic Alert: Off-Label Medication
Hot topic alert. I may be feeling a little spicy today. There’s a post in the local parent group that’s got my attention. It’s about a medication originally for Type 2 Diabetes, now making rounds as a popular weight loss solution. Some of the comments were along the lines of, “Leave it for the diabetics. You should be ashamed of yourself for using a medication for off-label purposes. Doctors who prescribe it for weight loss should have their medical licenses revoked.” I'm not here to debate side effects or safety surrounding this particular medication. A few friends are on it, but that's not my angle.
What’s really got me fired up is this whole notion against off-label medication use. Let’s get something straight: Off-label doesn’t mean off-limits. Evan is on two off-label prescriptions—one initially for epilepsy, the other for alcohol and opioid addiction. Now these meds are starting to be prescribed for managing chronic joint and neuropathic pain. Did we jump at the chance to put him on these? Heck no! We weighed the serious side effects, which weren’t just textbook warnings for us, they were our reality. We even took him off once because the side effects were so serious, but after taking him off is when we realized just how well they were working for the pain. So, with the support of his medical team, we increased the dosage more slowly, allowing his body to get used to the medication. The result: Evan got to get back to being a kid, playing with less pain.
The thought that he’s somehow less entitled to these because they weren’t originally intended for his condition doesn’t sit right with me. Plus, consider the irony: being prescribed these medications could very well prevent him from resorting to alcohol or drugs down the line for pain management. Self-medicating is super common with chronic pain conditions when patients can't get appropriate support.
So, here’s my take: Medications have the potential to improve lives in ways that go beyond their original purpose. It’s not about misusing or diverting essential medications from those who need them. It’s about understanding that health, pain, and treatment are complex. They don’t fit neatly into boxes labeled by initial intentions. Our decision wasn’t made lightly and I’d guess that’s the case for many in similar boats.
Before we make blanket statements about off-label use, let’s remember: behind each prescription, there’s a story, a person struggling, a family making tough calls for the right reasons.
