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Question-ERR® - September 2004
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Misspelled Medication Names

Country of Practice
USA 56%
International 34%

A. Please provide the names of three drugs that you see most frequently misspelled.

Prednisone/Prednisolone Zocor/Zoloft Asacol/Os-Cal 0%
abciximab, mycophenolate, gemfibrizol 0%
ActoplusMet misspelled as actplus 0%
adolonta 0%
Advair, beta blockers (-olol), gentamicin 0%
advicor, namenda, trinzivir 0%
Alesse Zyprexa Lunelle 0%
All recent UK name changes from BAN to RINN; Ibuprofen; Trimethoprim; Carbamazepine 0%
Almost any biotech agent 0%
Alocril Zetia Hydrochlorthiazide 0%
amitriptyline, metoprolol, trazodone 0%
amitryptilline, zyprexa, tylenol 0%
amoxicilina-clavulamico (agmentine) ranitidina qetiapina (seroquel) 0%
amoxicillin dicloxacillin 0%
amoxicillin, aricept, advair (these are 3 i can think of recently i've seen in our pharmacy 0%
Amoxicillin, Erythromycin, a.other antibiotics when prescribers differ often in producers of drugs 0%
Amoxil, Wellbutrin, Accutane 0%
Ancef (Anceph) Stemetil (Stemitil) hydrochlorothiazide (hydrochlorthiazide) 0%
aspirin metronidazole dothiepin 0%
aspirin, propranolol, morphine 0%
ATIVAN, COPEGUS, ZINACEF 0%
atorvastatin, isosorbide mononitrate, quetiapine 0%
Avelox Zestril Alavert 0%
Benedryl, Benicar, Phenergan 0%
Buproprion,Budeprion,Sensipar, 0%
Cancidas, Synagis, Cubicin 0%
capoten; zyloric; moduretic 0%
cefotaxime, ceftazidime, Advair 0%
cefotaxime, ceftazidime, synagis (synergis) 0%
ceftriaxone prochlorperazine piportil 0%
cefuroxime,amiodarone,imipenem/cilastin 0%
Celebrex Celexa Cerebyx 0%
celebrex immunoglobulin cedox 0%
celebrex zyprexia alesse maybe make this box big enough to hold three names without scrolling down 0%
celebrex, cerebyx, neumega 0%
Celexa = Selexa Phytonadione = phytodione diphenhydramine = dimenhydramine 0%
celexa, xanax, cozaar 0%
cerebyx diprivan kayexalate 0%
CLAVIRSAN CLAVERSAL 0%
Codeine Phenergan Meperidine 0%
Colace, Dulcolax, Xanax 0%
COUMADIN METOPROLOL LACTULOSE 0%
Cozaar 0%
cyclosporine,buspirone,calcium glubionate 0%
cymbalta, percocet, atenolol 0%
Darvocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin 0%
debekacyl ; salazopyrine ; kerlone ; selozok ; viskaldix 0%
Depakote and Depakote ER, Amiodarone (Amantidine), Cymbalta, Niferex and Niferex Forte 0%
depakote, celexa, coreg 0%
dicloxacillin, doxycycline 0%
dilaudid, phenytoin sodium, levothyroxine 0%
Doliprane° (paracétamol - BMS) & Dépakine° (valproate - Sanofi-Aventis) Tilcotil° (ténoxicam - Roche) & Ticlid° (ticlopidine - Sanofi-Aventis) Ceris° (trospium - Madaus) & Cialis (tadalafil - Lilly) 0%
DOXYCYCLINE - LEVOPHED - CEFOTAXIME 0%
Drug names that begin with X are often spelled with a Z e.g. Xeloda (Zeloda) Xanax (Zanax) also Clonopine for Klonopine 0%
Enalapril Mellaril Furmoside 0%
enalaprilat glucophage benzonatate 0%
Enaliprilat (IV), Depakote, Guaifenesin 0%
erythromycin 0%
Evista, Dilaudid, Unasyn 0%
fioricet amitriptyline atenolol 0%
FIORICET PERCOCET COZAAR 0%
gentamicin 0%
Gentamicin Amiodarone, Voriconazole 0%
gentamicin clindamycin pantoprazole 0%
gentamicin fuzeon amitriptyline 0%
gentamicin kayexalate meropenem 0%
Gentamicin, unfortunately no others come to mind right now. 0%
glipizide,glyburide,Mirapex 0%
glybizide for glyburide (easily confused with glypizide) Immodium for Imodium (second "m" added frequently in error) Clonapin for Klonopin (clonazepam) 0%
guaifenesin, doxasozin, adderall 0%
herceptin/augmentin.Eprex/edex.Gentallin/gemzar 0%
hydrochlorothiazide,risperdal,lamivudine 0%
hydrochlorthiazide cefepime (maxipime) merrem's generic name 0%
hydroxyzine, hydralazine, aciphex 0%
HYPOTEARS,REDACTIV 0%
Hyzaar bisoprolol carisoprodol 0%
I never see this is name for Drugs 1%
Ifosfamide Klonipin Gentamicin 0%
immunoglobulin HB / CELEBREX / CILAIS /YOMSAN VIOX/ 0%
kaoxylate xanax xalatan 1%
Kayexalate, psyllium, ebixa 0%
Klonopin (Clonopin/Clonapin/Klonapin/Klonipin) Risperdal (Risperidal/Risperadol) 0%
klonopin immodium neurontin 0%
Klonopin, Clonidine, Vistaril 0%
Klonopin, fosphenytoin, cefuroxime 0%
Lantus,donepezil,Endocet (not seen frequently but seen lately) 0%
Lercanidipine levetiracetam zoledronic acid 0%
Levofloxacin, gentamicin (miacin), Tekturna 0%
levothroid acovil aldactone requip 1%
lorazepam, loxapine, diphenhydramine 0%
lorcet, 0%
lortab, 0%
lovenox/vytorin/caduet 0%
Maalox Suffixes (XR, XL, etc) 0%
magnurol monurol 1%
Mepivacaina, Cefotaxima, Ceftriaxona 0%
metamizol, metimazol Evista Ebixa 0%
metamizol-metimazol, clometizol-clotrimazol, capecitabina-citarabina 0%
methotrimeprazine,trifluoperazine 0%
metoprolol, oxydone (especially the immediate-release, Celexa 0%
miacalcin/fosamax/adderall 0%
miolastan (myolastan) Boltin (voltin) spiriva (espiriva) 0%
Nadolol, Meropenem, Isotretinoin 0%
Natrecor, Lovenox, Gleevec 0%
neobrufen 600mg esberiven 200 ml besitran 50 mg 0%
NEORECORMON FRAKIDEX IKARAN 0%
Neosynephrine Phenylephrine Dobutamine 0%
Neupogen, Neulasta, Allopurinol 0%
Neurontin, Effexor/Effexor XR, Dynacirc/Dynacirc CR, Yaz vs Yasmin 0%
nolotil, actrapid, nootropil 0%
none come to mind, but it is a common problem and seen frequently 0%
none specifically 0%
none that would be a problem 0%
norfloxacin, N-escopolamin bromide, glicazide. In portuguese, norfloxacino, brometo de N-butilescopolamina e gliclazida. 0%
NORVASC, Xanax, zyprexa 0%
Not sure if I have a top three. 0%
Novolog, Tobrex 0%
octreotido viperfav escitalopram 0%
omeprazol versus anastrozol cefotaxima versus cefoxitina tramadol versus toradol 0%
omeprazol,paracetamol,aas 0%
Penicillin 0%
Pepcid (Pecin) Levaquin (Levoquin) Gentamicin (Gentamycin) 0%
Pepcid, metoprolol, metopramide 0%
percocet 0%
percocet rocephin 0%
Percocet, Aciphex, Risperdal 0%
percocet, amitriptyline 0%
percocet, clobetasol, darvocet 0%
Percocet, Dyazide, Atenolol 0%
PHENERGAN, CODEINE, 0%
Phenergen/Phenergan 0%
pravastatina, hidroxicina, fluimucil 0%
prozac, celexa, wellbutrin 0%
Pseudoephedrine/Ephedrine/Phenylephrine, Guaifenesin (& its combos), Imipenem, Klonopin/Clonidine/Clonazepam,Hydrochlorothiazide, Claritin/Clarinex, 0%
Quetiepine, Guafenisen, Clonidine 0%
Quinidine Ceftin Valium generic 0%
Renpress, reminyl, vaniqa 0%
risperdal lortab chlorzoxazone 0%
Risperdal,Xalatan,diltiazem 0%
risperidone, haloperidol, quetiapine 0%
Robaxin Singulair Biaxin 0%
sandimmun,levothroid,mabcamphath 0%
sazal in order to write xazal. Idaptan in order to idalprem Triptizol in order to Tryptizol Sinalar in order to Synalar estilnox in order to Stilnox 0%
seroquel,kefzol,zyprexa 0%
seroxat/seropram,Klaricid/clarityne,Centrum/centrac... 0%
several generic drug names 0%
Strattera, Merrem, Mylicon 0%
Strattera, Xanax, AMITRIPTYLINE 0%
sufentanil gentamicin ganciclovir 0%
Sumial/Luminal Alopurinol/Haloperidol 0%
Taxotol and Taxotere epinephrine and ephedrine 0%
trazodone, amiodarone, Cardizem 0%
trazodone, amitriptylline,penicillin 0%
Umckaloabo (wrong Umckalabo) Aerius (wrong Erius) Formigran (wrong Fomigran) 0%
UNASYN NEUPOGEN BISACODYL 0%
Using only the name of the company and the strenght for a product: hexal 50 mg instead of atenolol 50 mg hexal (very common!!!), ACE instead of ACC; 0%
vasotec percocet 0%
Vfend Arixtra Nexxair 0%
Vicodin (Vicoden); Motrin (Moltrin); Cerebyx (multiple ways this is misspelled) 0%
Vicodin Bumex Zocor 0%
Vicodin Klonopin Cortisporin 0%
VICODIN, DARVOCET, CADUET 0%
vicodin, effexor xr, xalatan 0%
vicodin,aciphex 0%
vicodin,percocet, 0%
Vicodin;metaprolol; 0%
WELLBUTRIN "WELLBURTIN", CELEBREX (CELEBRAX), IMITREX 0%
wellbutrin, effexor, avinza. 0%
xanax, evista,prilosec 0%
Xanax,Amaryl,Xalatan 0%
xopenex, verapamil, accupril 0%
Yasmin(YaZmin) 0%
zanax clonopin percocette 0%

B. Where have you seen medication names misspelled?

1. I have never seen a medication name misspelled. 7%
2. Handwritten prescriptions or medication orders written by the prescriber 71%
3. Handwritten prescriptions or medication orders written by an agent for the prescriber (i.e., a nurse or secretary) 64%
4. Medications listed in the database for a handheld computer 4%
5. Medications listed in the database for computerized physician order entry (CPOE) 8%
6. Medications listed in the database for pharmacy order entry 9%
7. Preprinted or typed prescriptions 28%
8. Typed medication orders in a hospital or long-term care facility 15%


C. How often do you receive a medication order where the medication name is misspelled?

I have not seen a medication order or prescription misspelled 3%
Occasionally I have seen a drug name misspelled, but not often enough to quantify 38%
One or two times a day 23%
Other 5%
Several times a day 10%

D. How often does the presence of a double consonant contribute to the misspelling a medication name (e.g., "- ss -")?

Almost always 2%
Frequently 14%
Never 12%
Sometimes 50%

E. How often does the presence of an unusual vowel combination contribute to the misspelling of a medication name (e.g., "- iy -")?

Almost always 7%
Frequently 22%
Never 7%
Sometimes 42%

F. How often does the presence of an unusual letter combination contribute to the misspelling of a medication name (e.g., a "- Q-" without "- u -" or "- ixb -")?

Almost always 10%
Frequently 21%
Never 8%
Sometimes 38%

G. What do you do if you receive a prescription and the drug name is misspelled?

Dispense the drug after calling the prescriber to 46%
Dispense the drug after verifying with the patient 4%
Dispense the drug with the closest name 11%
Do not dispense the drug 3%
Other 15%