Disclaimer

Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted medical practices. However, the authors and editors are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information in this book and make no warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the currency, completeness, or accuracy of the contents of the publication. Application of this information in a particular situation re-mains the professional responsibility of the medical practitioner.

The authors and editors have exerted every effort to ensure that the selection, use and dosing of drugs set forth in this textbook are in accordance with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in federal regulatory guidelines, newly published reports and changing information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to review the package insert for each drug for any change in indications, dosing, warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended treatment is a new or infrequently employed drug.

Patients who utilize the information herein are advised to make this the basis for discussion with their treating physician.   Patients should not alter their therapies or clinical treatment plan without conferring with a licensed medical practitioner about the merits of using the information within this textbook.

Some drugs and medical treatments presented in this publication have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use under specific clinical indications.  FDA approval is granted for the marketing and sale of a particular agent and only for specific indications – usually the more common clinical disorders.  Many uncommon or rare disorders will not have an “FDA approved” treatment because the low frequency of such disorders does not attract drug developers to apply for FDA approval.  Hence, there are many conditions wherein the standards of therapy are defined by clinical research or experience.   “Off-label” use is common and expected in rare diseases, pediatric disorders and when treatment options are very limited.  It is the physician’s duty to treat each patient in the most effective and safest manner possible, which may include off-label prescribing, when it is in
the best interest of the patient and is given for a well defined clinical indication.  It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the FDA status of each drug or device planned for use in their clinical practice.

Neither the editor nor the publisher nor any other party who has been involved in the preparation of publication of this work warrants that the information contained herein is in every respect accurate or complete, and they are not responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from the use of such information.