Help Prevent Medication Mix-Ups

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

19 Sep 2008 05:38 PM

There are lots of medications on the market -- name brand prescriptions, generic equivalents, and over-the-counter remedies. A recent study from the United States Pharmacopeia, there are more than a thousand drugs that have names that are similar to others. Similar names creates a potential for confusion -- the wrong drug (with a similar name) being substituted for the right one.

Look at these sound-alikes for example:

• Were you prescribed Actos (for type 2 diabetes) or Actonel (for osteoporosis)?
• Were you prescribed Celexa (for depression) or Celebrex (for arthritis)?
• Were you prescribed Heparin (a blood thinner) or HESpan (to thicken blood)?
• Were you prescribed Prozac (for depression) or Prilosec (for acid reflux)?

You can help avoid simple medication mistakes (like my own recent experience with antibiotics) by being aware and willing to speak up and ask questions.

1. When your doctor prescribes a medication, write down the name and dosage for yourself -- and confirm with the doctor that you have the correct name. When you pick up your prescription, make sure the name and dosage you wrote down is the same name and dosage on the bottle.
2. Talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist about the generic equivalent for your medication. Some pharmacies will ask you before substituting a cheaper, generic equivalent to help you save money.
3. Do your research. There are lots of sites out there that will give you information about a medication -- what it is used for, what the side effects are, and more. The National Institutes of Health have a MedLine Plus database with a pretty comprehensive list of drugs.
4. Read the information that comes with your prescription. Make sure it is indicated for treatment of your condition! This is also a good time to double-check side effects and drug interactions.

If after all that, you still aren't sure? Call your doctor and check one last time before taking your first dose. It's better to be safe than sorry!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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