Dr. Oz: Does menopause have to equal weight gain?

Q: My doctor suggested I take anti-seizure medication for my migraines, but it’s not approved for that. He says it’s safe and effective. What’s your take? – Evelyn P., Council Bluffs, Iowa

A: In the United States, 4.02 billion prescriptions are written annually, and more than 20 percent are to treat diseases or conditions for which the drugs are not specifically Food and Drug Administration-approved. That’s called off-label use, and it is perfectly legal. In fact, more than half of all uses of cancer drugs are prescribed off-label, and that’s even OK with health insurance companies.