Rationale

There should be a firm evidence base for all medication decisions. National licence conditions, where available, govern the indications, dosage and contra-indications for each available medication. ‘ There are few drugs specifically licensed for use in children and adolescents’ . When medication is prescribed off-licence , this should be under specialist supervision. ‘ Prior to prescribing, the licensing status of a medication should be checked in the current version of the British National Formulary’ . Service care providers should have agreed protocols consistent with national guidelines which provide guidance on medication, dosage, length of treatment , review requirements, side effects , and assessment of the effectiveness of medication. ‘ A shared care protocol, where appropriate, should be adopted between primary and secondary care’.

‘ The potential balance of risks and benefits from any pharmacological treatment needs to be considered for each individual child, and discussed, where appropriate, with them and their parents/carers, so that they can make an informed decision’.