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Off-label use of baclofen for alcohol use disorders in India: no ethics without science

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Off-label use of drugs, when not supported by sound scientific evidence, hinders the development of evidence-based medicine and therapeutic innovation, is costly to the healthcare system, and exposes patients to unnecessary risks, including mortality, for an uncertain benefit. Off-label use of baclofen is the preferred pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorders in India, despite its negative benefit/harm ratio, and the fact that acamprosate or naltrexone have long been established as robustly evidence-based medicines. This unacceptable state of affairs only illustrates the fact that the marketing strategies of industry cannot be the sole basis for prescribing a drug.

Source: Indian Journal of Medical Ethics

DOI: 10.20529/ijme.2025.044

Authors: Alain Braillon, Florian Naudet

Institutions: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes

Language: English

Topic: Pharmaceutical industry and healthcare

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4410867297