Look-alike and sound-alike drug names: the problem and the solution

This list of 645 pairs of look-alike and sound-alike drug names (1,290 names are shown; they are listed both ways), has been complied to graphically emphasize the importance for the pharmaceutical industry, the United States Adopted Name (USAN) Council, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to select new names with great care. It also stresses to health professionals the necessity of writing legibly, writing complete orders, speaking slowly and clearly when giving verbal orders, carefully reading prescription orders, knowing what is wrong with patients, maintaining records of previous drugs patients have received, and learning about new drug products. It also indicates that patients must be educated about the medications they are taking. Your cooperation in alerting the authors of names they may have overlooked or of new problems would be greatly appreciated. When a sufficient number of additions are received, an updated list will be published.