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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on September 16, 2005, at 22:42:40
There are so many drugs that have similar sounding names. Those similar-sounding names combined with doctors' poor handwriting and overworked, fatigued pharmacists (some pharmacists here work 12-hour shifts) is a recipe for disaster. I think that there should be an international organization for naming drugs, just as there is such an organization for chemistry and chemists (IUPAC). Drug naming should not be left to the pharmaceutical companies, who are only interested in profits. Just tonight I was researching something for a friend on Cephalexin or Keflex, an antibiotic. I thought that Cephalexin and some of the other names for the drug sounded a lot like Celexa/Cipralex/Lexapro. This has the potential to confuse patients, pharmacists and the various medical professionals who might be involved in the prescription process.
I wonder whether the FDA has any say in the naming of drugs, or is it left entirely up to the individual drug companies?
Any thoughts?
Posted by opits2 on September 26, 2005, at 17:38:32
In reply to Naming drugs - a few thoughts, posted by Sarah T. on September 16, 2005, at 22:42:40
Interestingly enough, I just filled my Lamictal prescription today which came with a warning and a fact sheet about the similarity of it's name to many other drugs, including lamasil and lomotil. It recommended checking the shape and size of the pill against the images they provided, and confirming the prescription with one's pharmacist. Based on the link below, I do think they have some sort of system for catching names that are similar, but only after the fact.
http://www.usp.org/patientSafety/newsletters/practitionerReportingNews/prn812001-02-06.html
Posted by Sarah T. on September 26, 2005, at 20:38:11
In reply to Re: Naming drugs - a few thoughts » Sarah T., posted by opits2 on September 26, 2005, at 17:38:32
Hi opits2,
It is indeed very interesting that you were given that fact and warning sheet.
Over the years, I have been on the receiving end of several pharmacist errors, including receiving the wrong strength of a drug that I'd been on for a while. Fortunately, because I'd been on it, I knew what the tablets were supposed to look like, and I immediately recognized the tablets as incorrect.
Last year, I was given the wrong strength of a topical ointment. Fortunately, the doctor had warned me that the medicine was very strong and that's why she was giving me the lower of the two available strengths. The pharmacist filled the rx with the higher strength. I caught the error only because the doctor had discussed the strengths with me several hours earlier.
I've also had pills missing from prescriptions for restricted meds. This has happened on several occasions. My doctor told me to always count the pills before I leave the store. In some instances, counting the pills can take quite a while!
Regardless of how depressed we may be or how much we wish we could count on the "professionals" to do their jobs correctly, we must be vigilant and as well-informed as possible.
This is the end of the thread.
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