Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9725

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Improving systems should help to reduce errors due to look-alike and sound-alike drug names
Drugs and Therapy Perspectives 2004; 20:(4):23-26

Abstract:

Confusion due to similar looking or sounding drug names is a common problem that can result in potentially serious medication errors. Regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry have recently made efforts to reduce this problem by reviewing new drug names for error potential. However, additional actions are required to address the possibilities for confusion with the thousands of drugs already registered and marketed. These include monitoring for errors by national agencies, actions by healthcare workers to improve prescribing and dispensing systems, and educating patients about their medications.