4 ms·
> Doctors are only allowed to give medications that treat a certain disorder. Is this true, particularly in the US? My understanding is that a doctor can pres
by LyndsySimon 9y ago
> Doctors are only allowed to give medications that treat a certain disorder.
Is this true, particularly in the US?
My understanding is that a doctor can prescribe basically whatever they want as long as they believe that "in their professional opinion" the potential benefit outweighs the potential harm.
It's certainly common for doctors to prescribe medication "off-label" to treat conditions for which the medication is not approved by the FDA. I don't see how prescribing a specific vitamin in an attempt to impact a mental disorder is any different from, say, prescribing modafinil for ADHD?
- gscott 9y agoIt is true a Dr could in theory do what they want to but there are treatment guidelines and if they vary off that too much then the medical board could get after them. This happens I know a Doctor who wanted to treat lymes disease for patients and the medical board didn't like that it seems she was experimenting with what would work to treat it (this was about 15 years ago when it was pretty new).