Drug Name Confusion
| March 18, 2008 Carol Rados MedicineNet.com |
Drug Name Confusion: Preventing Medication Errors
An 8-year-old died, it was suspected, after receiving methadone instead of
methylphenidate, a drug used to treat attention deficit disorders. A 50-
year-old woman was hospitalized after taking Flomax, used to treat the
symptoms of an enlarged prostate, instead of Volmax, used to relieve
bronchospasm.
The Food and Drug Administration investigates many of these prescription
mix-up cases every year. The FDA says that about 10 percent of all
medication errors reported result from drug name confusion.
The Problems
Medication errors can occur between brand names, generic names and
brand-to-generic names, such as Toradol and tramadol. Abbreviations,
acronyms, dose designations and other medication prescribing symbols
also play a role in creating potential mix-up issues. (For instance: “D/C”
means both “discharge” and “discontinue”.)
The XYZs of Naming Drugs
Pharmaceutical companies feel that a catchy, snappy moniker for a new
drug is an important part of its development and marketing. The FDA will
not allow names that imply medical claims, suggest a use for which the
drug isn’t approved, or promise more than it has clinically proven to
deliver.
Typically, every drug has three names: chemical, generic (non-
proprietary), and brand (proprietary). The generic name is selected by the
United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council. These names are generally
used by health care professionals.
Generic names are created using an established stem, or group of letters
that represents a specific drug class. For instance, the arthritis
medications celecoxib, valdecoxib and rofecoxib are generic names
containing the –coxib stem; each belongs to a class of drugs known as the
COX-2 inhibitors.
While names that include such stems are easier to remember and suggest
what a drug is used for, their similarities can contribute to medication
errors. With well over 9,000 generic drug names and 33,000 trademarked
brand names in use in the United States, it is no wonder that there is an
increasing risk of medication mix-up.
Fixing the Problems
The FDA reviews about 400 brand names a year before they go to market.
About 1/3 of the reviewed names are rejected because of looking or
sounding like existing brand names. The FDA may require brand name
changes even after reaching the marketplace. After its introduction, the
diabetes drug Amaryl was being confused with the Alzheimer’s
medication, Reminyl; the Alzheimer’s medicine is now called Razadyne.
Physicians are encouraged to write prescriptions more clearly, printing in
block letters rather than writing in cursive, avoiding the use of
abbreviations and indicating the reason for the drug prescription.
According to the FDA, pharmacists can help by keeping look-alike/sound-
alike products separated from one another on pharmacy shelves, by
avoiding stocking multiple product sizes together andby verifying with the
doctor information that is not clear before filling a prescription.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself or Loved Ones
Here is a list of steps you can take:
An 8-year-old died, it was suspected, after receiving methadone instead of
methylphenidate, a drug used to treat attention deficit disorders. A 50-
year-old woman was hospitalized after taking Flomax, used to treat the
symptoms of an enlarged prostate, instead of Volmax, used to relieve
bronchospasm.
The Food and Drug Administration investigates many of these prescription
mix-up cases every year. The FDA says that about 10 percent of all
medication errors reported result from drug name confusion.
The Problems
Medication errors can occur between brand names, generic names and
brand-to-generic names, such as Toradol and tramadol. Abbreviations,
acronyms, dose designations and other medication prescribing symbols
also play a role in creating potential mix-up issues. (For instance: “D/C”
means both “discharge” and “discontinue”.)
The XYZs of Naming Drugs
Pharmaceutical companies feel that a catchy, snappy moniker for a new
drug is an important part of its development and marketing. The FDA will
not allow names that imply medical claims, suggest a use for which the
drug isn’t approved, or promise more than it has clinically proven to
deliver.
Typically, every drug has three names: chemical, generic (non-
proprietary), and brand (proprietary). The generic name is selected by the
United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council. These names are generally
used by health care professionals.
Generic names are created using an established stem, or group of letters
that represents a specific drug class. For instance, the arthritis
medications celecoxib, valdecoxib and rofecoxib are generic names
containing the –coxib stem; each belongs to a class of drugs known as the
COX-2 inhibitors.
While names that include such stems are easier to remember and suggest
what a drug is used for, their similarities can contribute to medication
errors. With well over 9,000 generic drug names and 33,000 trademarked
brand names in use in the United States, it is no wonder that there is an
increasing risk of medication mix-up.
Fixing the Problems
The FDA reviews about 400 brand names a year before they go to market.
About 1/3 of the reviewed names are rejected because of looking or
sounding like existing brand names. The FDA may require brand name
changes even after reaching the marketplace. After its introduction, the
diabetes drug Amaryl was being confused with the Alzheimer’s
medication, Reminyl; the Alzheimer’s medicine is now called Razadyne.
Physicians are encouraged to write prescriptions more clearly, printing in
block letters rather than writing in cursive, avoiding the use of
abbreviations and indicating the reason for the drug prescription.
According to the FDA, pharmacists can help by keeping look-alike/sound-
alike products separated from one another on pharmacy shelves, by
avoiding stocking multiple product sizes together andby verifying with the
doctor information that is not clear before filling a prescription.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself or Loved Ones
Here is a list of steps you can take:
- Know the name and strength of prescribed drugs before leaving
the doctor's office - Insist that the doctor include the purpose of the medication on the
prescription - Ensure that a refill is what it should be
- Tell your doctor of any medical history changes
| Editor's Note: Medication reminders are one of the many services provided by CARE GIVERS NW. Our professional in home caregivers familiarize themselves with the client's medication needs which are noted in the client care plan binder and remind the client when it is time to take their medications. |
(503)251-9851
| Actor Dennis Quaid recently announced his involvement with the National Network for Serious Medication Errors. The program is aimed at preventing medication errors. read more |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |