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. 2008 Nov 24;337:a2245. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a2245

Table 5 .

Most commonly used drugs (use per 1000 children per year) by anatomical level and age in 2005 plus paediatric licensing status in UK

Drug class and name <2 years 2-11 years 12-18 years Total users/1000
No/1000 % off label No/1000 % off label No/1000 % off label
Alimentary tract (A)
Lactulose 797 0 2565 0 565 0 3927
Miconazole 566 0 134 0 31 0 731
Ranitidine 145 100 133 0 343 0 622
Mebeverine 0 NA 57 0 524 0 581
Domperidone 103 0 136 0 247 0 486
Blood and blood forming organs (B)
Folic acid 141 100 48 0 368 0 558
Tranexamic acid 0 NA 9 0 295 0 304
Aspirin 12 100 52 100 37 0 103
Warfarin 1 100 17 100 25 100 46
Phytomenadione 26 0 10 0 7 0 43
Cardiovascular (C)
Adrenaline (epinephrine) 6 100 580 0 383 0 970
Propranolol 4 0 27 0 262 0 293
Furosemide 18 100 38 0 19 0 76
Atenolol 2 100 31 100 42 100 78
Enalapril 0 NA 26 0 37 0 63
Dermatological (D)
Hydrocortisone 2425 0 7311 0 2574 0 12 310
Fusidic acid 880 0 3936 0 1457 0 6273
Clobetasone butyrate 232 0 1888 0 1080 0 3200
Clotrimazole 828 100 1617 0 627 0 3073
Betamethasone 74 0 967 0 1360 0 2401
Genitourinary system and sex hormones (G)
Clotrimazole 61 100 182 100 801 0 1046
Norethisterone 0 NA 4 100 1019 100 1025
Levonorgestrel 0 NA 0 0 946 0 946
Medroxyprogestrogen 0 NA 1 100 693 0 695
Desogestrel 1 100 0 100 268 100 272
Systemic hormonal preparations (H)
Desmopressin 0 NA 467 0 312 0 779
Levothyroxine 19 0 89 0 159 0 267
Glucagon 0 NA 77 0 108 0 185
Dexamethasone 19 100 44 0 8 0 72
Somatropin 0 NA 28 0 26 0 54
Anti-infectives for systemic use (J)
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 518 0 6057 0 5710 0 12285
Flucloxacillin 897 0 6043 0 4223 0 11 163
Erythromycin 1287 0 5265 0 3386 0 9938
Trimethoprim 351 0 2623 0 2122 0 5096
Cefalexin 345 100 1597 0 1098 0 3041
Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (L)
Azathioprine 0 NA 16 0 65 0 81
Methotrexate 0 NA 10 0 24 0 34
Ciclosporin 0 NA 13 100 8 0 22
Tacrolimus 0 NA 5 0 9 0 14
Goserelin 0 NA 2 100 2 100 6
Musculoskeletal system (M)
Ibuprofen 1085 0 5404 0 4251 0 10 740
Diclofenac 2 0 41 0 1247 0 1290
Mefenamic acid 0 NA 11 0 1278 0 1289
Naproxen 0 NA 4 0 143 0 147
Ketoprofen 0 NA 15 100 70 0 86
Nervous system (N)
Paracetamol 4292 0 11 085 0 2832 0 18 209
Methylphenidate 0 NA 286 0 433 0 719
Pizotifen 0 NA 207 0 430 0 637
Fluoxetine 0 NA 6 0 398 0 404
Diazepam 4 0 124 0 266 0 394
Antiparasitic drugs, insecticides, and repellents (P)
Mebendazole 24 100 1695 0 349 0 2069
Phenothrin 3 0 201 0 53 0 257
Permethrin 35 0 845 0 400 0 1280
Malathion 40 0 1088 0 372 0 1500
Respiratory system (R)
Salbutamol 1309 100 12 403 0 8321 0 22 034
Beclometasone 256 100 6332 0 3963 0 10 552
Cetirizine 24 100 3382 0 4145 0 7552
Chlorphenamine 578 0 3945 0 959 0 5482
Loratadine 1 0 1992 0 2261 0 4254
Sensory organs (S)
Chloramphenicol 4155 100 7161 0 2192 0 13 509
Cromoglicic acid 53 100 1875 0 2630 0 4559
Fusidic acid 1316 0 1951 0 540 0 3807
Nedocromil 0 NA 265 0 465 0 730
Hydrocortisone 101 100 236 0 57 0 395

NA=not assessable.