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

Table 6.

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

Drug class and name <2 years 2-11 years Total users/1000
No/1000 % off label No/1000 % off label
Alimentary tract (A)
Domperidone 250 0 649 0 899
Sodium fluoride 571 0 192 0 763
Cimetropium bromide 341 0 124 0 465
Nystatin 139 0 133 0 272
Lactitol 45 0 168 0 213
Blood and blood forming organs (B)
Electrolytes 124 0 151 0 275
Tranexamic acid 4 0 168 0 172
Phytomenadione 88 0 9 0 97
Ferrous gluconate 6 0 62 0 68
Ferrous sulphate 0 NA 48 0 48
Cardiovascular (C)
Epinephrine 16 0 56 0 72
Hydrocortisone 0 NA 14 0 14
Furosemide 9 0 4 0 13
Oxetacaine 0 NA 8 0 8
Disopyramide 0 NA 1 0 1
Dermatological (D)
Betamethasone/antibiotics 205 0 431 0 636
Mometasone 240 0 362 0 602
Mupirocin 90 0 313 0 403
Clotrimazole 175 100 118 100 293
Econazole 90 100 83 100 173
Genitourinary system and sex hormones (G)
Conjugated oestrogens 57 0 26 0 83
Oxybutynin 0 NA 37 0 37
Benzydamine 2 100 19 100 21
Povidone-iodine 1 100 14 100 15
Estriol 9 100 5 100 14
Systemic hormonal preparations (H)
Betamethasone 1430 0 2064 0 3494
Prednisone 5 0 240 0 245
Desmopressin 0 NA 120 0 120
Dexamethasone 18 0 6 0 24
Levothyroxine 5 0 17 0 22
Anti-infectives for systemic use (J)
Amoxicillin 2573 0 3603 0 6176
Co-amoxiclav 1760 0 4210 0 5970
Azithromycin 666 0 2616 0 3282
Clarithromycin 683 0 2385 0 3068
Aciclovir 309 0 739 0 1048
Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (L)
Pidotimod 11 0 80 0 91
Leuprorelin 0 NA 7 100 7
Triptorelin 0 NA 6 100 6
Methotrexate 0 NA 5 100 5
Ciclosporin 0 NA 3 100 3
Musculoskeletal system (M)
Ibuprofen 508 100 1399 100 1907
Morniflumate 118 100 446 100 564
Ketoprofen 8 0 354 0 362
Flurbiprofen 19 0 220 0 239
Niflumic acid 62 0 168 0 232
Nervous system (N)
Paracetamol 603 0 491 0 1094
Paracetamol, combinations 255 0 506 0 761
Niaprazine 158 0 39 0 197
Diazepam 41 0 85 0 126
Valproic acid 4 0 39 0 43
Antiparasitic drugs, insecticides, and repellents (P)
Mebendazole 38 0 479 0 517
Pyrantel 11 0 145 0 156
Mefloquine 8 0 16 0 24
Albendazole 1 0 22 0 23
Permethrin 0 NA 13 0 13
Respiratory system (R)
Beclometasone 1584 0 2849 0 4433
Salbutamol 1202 0 1932 0 3134
Flunisolide 615 0 1256 0 1871
Cetirizine 234 0 1435 0 1669
Salbutamol combinations 537 0 725 0 1262
Sensory organs (S)
Tobramycin 441 0 515 0 956
Anti-infectives, combinations 117 0 256 0 373
Dexamethasone and anti-infectives 42 100 229 100 271
Nedocromil 43 0 156 0 199
Combinations of different antibiotics 90 0 75 0 165

NA=not assessable.