Similar Drug Names Often Cause Medical Mixups

From the Louisville Courier-Journal:  As the prescription drug market has grown through recent years, a number of such drugs bear similar names while treating vastly different ailments.

According to the article, 1.5 million Americans are harmed each year from medication errors and that name mix-ups are responsible for approximately a quarter of such injuries. 

It is noted that poor penmanship is often responsible for the mixups, but notes other possibilities, including:

• A physician intends to prescribe a new drug but spells out a similar sounding old drug out of habit.

• A pharmacist is hurried and doesn't take time to call a physician to clarify an unclear prescription.

• A hurried pharmacist using alphabetized bottles on a shelf grabs the wrong one. Adding to the possibility of error is that some drugs may come in lookalike packaging. Antimisiaris said the drugs metronidazole, an antibiotic, and metformin hydrochloride, an antidiabetic drug, come in lookalike red, white and blue bottles, for example.

• A faxed prescription that is blurred or smudged.

• A phoned prescription that is hard to make out because of a poor connection.

As noted, prescription drug mixups can cause serious health problems.  If you or a loved one believe that you have been harmed by a prescription drug mixup, or other medical malpractice, please contact the attorneys at medical malpractice attorneys at Gray and White Law for a free consultation.