Sound Alike and Look Alike Drug names in India. How to avoid the mistake arising out of wrong medication

1. Sound-Alike And Look-
Alike
Drug names in India
(SALA DRUGS)
Mahadev Patel
Patel Medical, Mulund East, Mumbai
mahadev@MyPatelMedical.com

2. SALA DRUGS in India
BRANDNAME GENERIC NAME USE
Aldactone Spironolactone
Diuretic
Aldarone Amiodarone Antiarrythmic
Epitril Clonazepam
Anticonvulsant
Enapril Enalepril Ace Inhibitor

3. SALA DRUGS in India
BRANDNAME A BRANDNAME B
Metpure XL 25 Minipress XL 2.5
Decerin GM Dycerin GM
Misoprost 200 Microgest 200
Beplex Forte Riflux Forte
Rabekind Rubired
Zinetac Zyrtec
Daonil Depsonil
Dilantin Dilcontin

10. How To Prevent The SALA
Medication Errors
Suggestions To Reduce The Medication Mix-ups

11. Manufacturers
Manufacturers should:
1) Choose unique drug names, easily written and pronounced
2) While proposing a drug name (brand and generic), they should
do complete research to ensure that there are no drugs with
similar names in the market

12. Physicians/Prescriber
In order to avoid SALA confusion, the prescriber can
1) Clearly write the prescriptions (Printed/ in CAPS)
2) Avoid using short forms or abbreviation of drug names
3) Make further comment about the drugs (include both generic
and brand names)
4) Avoid verbal prescriptions to a maximum extent.

13. Pharmacists
Pharmacists should ensure that a patient receives the correct
drug, as directed by the physician. They can do so by
Procurement :
•Avoid combined purchase of medicines with similar
packaging and appearance
Storage
•Separating SALA drugs from one another
•Additional Warning Labels on stock detailing generic drug

14. Pharmacists
Administrative
•Read labels carefully and perform
triangle check for right dispensing >
•Emphasize the need to read labels
rather than relying on visual recognition
or stock location
•Make read back clarification of verbal
orders a requirement. The staff
receiving the verbal order must repeat
the orders and ensure that they are
verified

15. Pharmacists
Dispensing/Supply
•Identify medicines based on its name and strength and not by
its appearance or location.
•Check the appropriateness of dose for the medicines dispensed.
•Installing warning system to staff – Computer alerts or warnings on
stock
•Double checking the drug before dispensing
General
•Contacting the physician in case of any clarification regarding the
prescription
•Becoming and making staff familiar with SALA drugs

16. Consumers
Consumers can also reduce the chance of getting the wrong
medications.
1) Must be aware as to why that particular drug is prescribed and
the appropriate usage the medication.
2) They should confirm that the physician has clearly written the
name of the drug (i.e. the patient must be able to read the name
of the drug).
3) After buying, they should ensure to see whether the drug in
hand is the same as the one in the prescription.

17. Thank You!
Suggestions and Feedback.
Mahadev Patel
Patel Medical, Mulund East, Mumbai
mahadev@MyPatelMedical.com