Tag: Off label prescribing

In some studies, over 45% of psychoactive drug prescriptions are for off-label uses, a common practice in psychiatry [1.11.3]. This includes the anticonvulsant topiramate. So, what mental illness does topiramate treat outside of its approved uses?

Despite its reputation as a powerful cognitive enhancer, a 2013 study in *JAMA Internal Medicine* found that 89% of modafinil users were prescribed it for off-label reasons. This raises a critical question: why is modafinil not prescribed more widely for these purposes?

While there are no medications approved to treat the core symptoms of autism, approximately 21% to 32% of autistic children and adolescents are prescribed SSRIs, a class of medication that can stabilize mood [1.2.4]. For individuals on the spectrum, discovering what mood stabilizers are used for autism is a key part of managing co-occurring symptoms like emotional dysregulation and aggression [1.2.3].