Off-label: Off-label means a licensed medicine is being used in a way not covered by its official licence, such as for a different condition, dose or route.

Patients often confuse off-label with illegal.

NICE’s explanatory material around prescribing notes that guidance includes information about prescribing medicines, including off-label use.

Off-label use requires clinical judgment and informed discussion; it is not casual experimentation.

Related glossary terms

Related MCPH pages

Sources