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Information

List of Confused Drug Names

The Joint Commission established a National Patient Safety Goal that requires accredited organizations to identify a list of look-alike or sound-alike drugs used in their organization and, at a minimum, to review the list annually and take action to prevent errors involving the use of these drugs. Organizations must list at least 10 drug combinations from the Joint Commission’s list of LASA drugs.

The following are drug pairs that the Joint Commission and others have rated as most problematic. Names in ALL CAPITALS are brand names; those in lowercase are generic names.

Drug NameConfused Drug Name
Abelcetamphotericin B
AccuprilAciphex
acetaminophenacetaZOLAMIDE
acetaZOLAMIDE acetaminophen
acetic acid for irrigationglacial acetic acid
AciphexAccupril
AciphexAricept
ActivaseCathflo Activase
ActivaseTNKase
ActonelActos
ActosActonel
Adacel (Tdap)Daptacel (DTaP)
ado-trastuzumab emtansinetrastuzumab
Aggrastatargatroban
AldaraAlora
AlkeranLeukeran
AlkeranMyleran
AllegraAllegra Anti-Itch Cream (diphenhydramine/allantoin)
AllegraViagra
Allegra Anti-Itch Cream (diphenhydramine/allantoin)Allegra
AloraAldara
ALPRAZolamclonazePAM
ALPRAZolamLORazepam
amantadineamiodarone
Ambisomeamphotericin B
aMILorideamLODIPine
amiodaroneamantadine
amLODIPineaMILoride
amphotericin BAbelcet
amphotericin BAmbisome
amphotericin Bamphotericin B liposomal
amphotericin B liposomalamphotericin B
antacidAtacand
anticoagulant citrate dextrose solution formula Aanticoagulant sodium citrate solution
anticoagulant sodium citrate solutionanticoagulant citrate dextrose solution formula A
ApidraSpiriva
argatrobanAggrastat
AriceptAciphex
AriceptAzilect
ARIPiprazoleproton pump inhibitors
ARIPiprazoleRABEprazole
Arista AH (absorbable hemostatic agent)Arixtra
ArixtraArista AH (absorbable hemostatic agent)
AsacolOs-Cal
Atacandantacid
atomoxetineatorvastatin
atorvastatinatomoxetine
AvandiaCoumadin
azaCITIDineazaTHIOprine
azaTHIOprineazaCITIDine
AzilectAricept
B & O (belladonna and opium)Beano
BabyBIGHBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin)
BeanoB & O (belladonna and opium)
Benadrylbenazepril
benazeprilBenadryl
Betadine (with povidone-iodine)Betadine (without povidone-iodine )
Betadine (without povidone-iodine)Betadine (with povidone-iodine )
betaine (anhydrous form)betaine HCl
betaine HClbetaine (anhydrous form)
Bicillin C-RBicillin L-A
Bicillin L-ABicillin C-R
BidexVidex
BreviblocBrevital
BrevitalBrevibloc
buprenorphineHYDROmorphone
buPROPionbusPIRone
busPIRonebuPROPion
captoprilcarvedilol
carBAMazepineOXcarbazepine
CARBOplatinCISplatin
CardeneCardizem
CardizemCardene
CarduraCoumadin
carvedilolcaptopril
Cathflo ActivaseActivase
ceFAZolincefTRIAXone
cefTRIAXoneceFAZolin
cefuroximesulfaSALAzine
CeleBREXCeleXA
CeleBREXCerebyx
CeleXACeleBREX
CeleXACerebyx
CeleXAZyPREXA
CerebyxCeleBREX
CerebyxCeleXA
cetirizinesertraline
cetirizinestavudine
chlordiazePOXIDE chlorproMAZINE
chlorproMAZINE chlordiazePOXIDE
CISplatinCARBOplatin
Claritin (loratadine)Claritin Eye (ketotifen fumarate)
Claritin-DClaritin-D 24
Claritin-D 24Claritin-D
Claritin Eye (ketotifen fumarate)Claritin (loratadine)
ClindesseClindets
ClindetsClindesse
cloBAZam clonazePAM
clomiPHENE clomiPRAMINE
clomiPRAMINE clomiPHENE
clonazePAM ALPRAZolam
clonazePAM cloBAZam
clonazePAM cloNIDine
clonazePAM cloZAPine
clonazePAM LORazepam
cloNIDineclonazePAM
cloNIDinecloZAPine
cloNIDineKlonoPIN
cloZAPineclonazePAM
cloZAPinecloNIDine
ClozarilColazal
coagulation factor IX (recombinant)factor IX complex, vapor heated
ColaceCozaar
ColazalClozaril
colchicineCortrosyn
Cortrosyncolchicine
CoumadinAvandia
CoumadinCardura
CozaarColace
CozaarZocor
CubicinCubicin RF
Cubicin RFCubicin
cyclophosphamidecycloSPORINE
cycloSERINE cycloSPORINE
cycloSPORINE cyclophosphamide
cycloSPORINE cycloSERINE
CymbaltaSymbyax
dabigatranvigabatrin
DACTINomycinDAPTOmycin
Daptacel (DTaP)Adacel (Tdap)
DAPTOmycinDACTINomycin
DAUNOrubicinDOXOrubicin
DAUNOrubicinIDArubicin
Denavirindinavir
DepakoteDepakote ER
Depakote ERDepakote
DEPO-MedrolSOLU—Medrol
Depo-ProveraDepo-subQ provera 104
Depo-subQ provera 104Depo-Provera
desipraminedisopyramide
desmopressinvasopressin
dexamethasonedexmedetomidine
DexilantDULoxetine
dexmedetomidinedexamethasone
dexmethylphenidatemethadone
diazePAM dilTIAZem
DiflucanDiprivan
dilTIAZemdiazePAM
dimenhyDRINATE diphenhydrAMINE
diphenhydrAMINE dimenhyDRINATE
DiprivanDiflucan
DiprivanDitropan
disopyramidedesipramine
DitropanDiprivan
DOBUTamineDOPamine
DOCEtaxelPACLitaxel
DOPamineDOBUTamine
DoxilPaxil
DOXOrubicinDAUNOrubicin
DOXOrubicinDOXOrubicin liposomal
DOXOrubicinIDArubicin
DOXOrubicin liposomalDOXOrubicin
Dramamine (dimenhyDRINATE )Dramamine (ginger root)
Dramamine (dimenhyDRINATE )Dramamine (meclizine)
Dramamine (ginger root)Dramamine (dimenhyDRINATE )
Dramamine (ginger root)Dramamine (meclizine)
Dramamine (meclizine)Dramamine (dimenhyDRINATE )
Dramamine (meclizine)Dramamine (ginger root)
Dulcolax (bisacodyl)Dulcolax (docusate sodium)
Dulcolax (docusate sodium)Dulcolax (bisacodyl)
DULoxetineDexilant
DULoxetineFLUoxetine
DULoxetinePARoxetine
Effexor XREnablex
elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamideelvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarateelvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide
EnablexEffexor XR
EnbrelLevbid
Engerix-B adultEngerix-B pediatric/ adolescent
Engerix-B pediatric/ adolescentEngerix-B adult
ePHEDrineEPINEPHrine
EPINEPHrineePHEDrine
epiRUBicineriBULin
eriBULinepiRUBicin
factor IX complex, vapor heatedcoagulation factor IX (recombinant)
FanaptXanax
FarxigaFetzima
FemaraFemhrt
FemhrtFemara
fentaNYL SUFentanil
FetzimaFarxiga
FioricetFiorinal
FiorinalFioricet
flavoxATE fluvoxaMINE
FlonaseFlovent
FloranexFlorinef
FlorastorFlorinef
FlorinefFloranex
FlorinefFlorastor
FloventFlonase
flumazenilinfluenza virus vaccine
FLUoxetineDULoxetine
FLUoxetinePARoxetine
fluPHENAZinefluvoxaMINE
fluvoxaMINE flavoxATE
fluvoxaMINE fluPHENAZine
fomepizoleomeprazole
gabapentingemfibrozil
gemfibrozilgabapentin
gentamicingentian violet
gentian violetgentamicin
glacial acetic acidacetic acid for irrigation
glipiZIDE glyBURIDE
glyBURIDE glipiZIDE
guaiFENesinguanFACINE
guanFACINE guaiFENesin
HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin)BabyBIG
HealonHyalgan
heparinHespan
Hespanheparin
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins")nystatin
HumaLOGHumuLIN
HumaLOGNovoLOG
HumaLOG Mix 75/25HumuLIN 70/30
HumuLINHumaLOG
HumuLINNovoLIN
HumuLIN 70/30HumaLOG Mix 75/25
HumuLIN R U-100HumuLIN R U-500
HumuLIN R U-500HumuLIN R U-100
HyalganHealon
hydrALAZINE hydroCHLOROthiazide
hydrALAZINE hydrOXYzine
HydreaLyrica
hydroCHLOROthiazidehydrALAZINE
hydroCHLOROthiazidehydrOXYzine
HYDROcodoneoxyCODONE
HYDROmorphonebuprenorphine
HYDROmorphonemorphine
HYDROmorphoneoxyMORphone
hydroxychloroquinehydroxyurea
HYDROXYprogesteronemedroxyPROGESTERone
hydroxyureahydroxychloroquine
hydroxyureahydrOXYzine
hydrOXYzinehydrALAZINE
hydrOXYzinehydroCHLOROthiazide
hydrOXYzinehydroxyurea
IDArubicinDAUNOrubicin
IDArubicinDOXOrubicin
IDArubicinidaruCIZUmab
idaruCIZUmabIDArubicin
indinavirDenavir
inFLIXimabriTUXimab
influenza virus vaccineflumazenil
influenza virus vaccineperflutren lipid microspheres
influenza virus vaccinetuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD)
InspraSpiriva
IntunivInvega
InvegaIntuniv
ISOtretinointretinoin
JantovenJanumet
JantovenJanuvia
JanumetJantoven
JanumetJanuvia
JanumetSinemet
JanuviaJantoven
JanuviaJanumet
K-Phos NeutralNeutra-Phos-K
KaletraKeppra
KeflexKeppra
KeppraKaletra
KeppraKeflex
Ketalarketorolac
ketorolacKetalar
ketorolacmethadone
KlonoPINcloNIDine
labetalolLaMICtal
labetalollamoTRIgine
LaMICtallabetalol
LaMICtalLamISIL
LamISILLaMICtal
lamiVUDinelamoTRIgine
lamoTRIginelabetalol
lamoTRIginelamiVUDine
lamoTRIginelevETIRAcetam
lamoTRIginelevothyroxine
Lanoxinlevothyroxine
Lanoxinnaloxone
lanthanum carbonatelithium carbonate
LantusLatuda
LantusLente
LasixLuvox
LatudaLantus
leucovorin calciumLeukeran
leucovorin calciumLEVOleucovorin
LeukeranAlkeran
Leukeranleucovorin calcium
LeukeranMyleran
LevbidEnbrel
LevemirLovenox
levETIRAcetamlamoTRIgine
levETIRAcetamlevOCARNitine
levETIRAcetamlevoFLOXacin
levOCARNitinelevETIRAcetam
levoFLOXacinlevETIRAcetam
LEVOleucovorinleucovorin calcium
levothyroxinelamoTRIgine
levothyroxineLanoxin
levothyroxineliothyronine
LexivaPexeva
linaCLOtidelinaGLIPtin
linaGLIPtinlinaCLOtide
liothyroninelevothyroxine
LipitorZyrTEC
lithiumUltram
lithium carbonatelanthanum carbonate
LopressorLyrica
LORazepamALPRAZolam
LORazepamclonazePAM
LORazepamLovaza
LotronexProtonix
LovazaLORazepam
LovenoxLevemir
LunestaNeulasta
Lupron Depot-3 MonthLupron Depot-Ped
Lupron Depot-PedLupron Depot-3 Month
LuvoxLasix
LyricaHydrea
LyricaLopressor
Malaronemefloquine
MaxzideMicrozide
medroxyPROGESTERoneHYDROXYprogesterone
medroxyPROGESTERonemethylPREDNISolone
medroxyPROGESTERonemethylTESTOSTERone
mefloquineMalarone
memantinemethadone
Mephytonmethadone
Metadatemethadone
metFORMIN metroNIDAZOLE
methadonedexmethylphenidate
methadoneketorolac
methadonememantine
methadoneMephyton
methadoneMetadate
methadonemethylphenidate
methadonemetOLazone
methazolAMIDE methIMAzole
methazolAMIDE metOLazone
methIMAzolemethazolAMIDE
methIMAzolemetOLazone
methotrexatemetOLazone
methylene blueVisionBlue
methylphenidatemethadone
methylPREDNISolonemedroxyPROGESTERone
methylPREDNISolonemethylTESTOSTERone
methylTESTOSTERonemedroxyPROGESTERone
methylTESTOSTERonemethylPREDNISolone
metOLazonemethadone
metOLazonemethazolAMIDE
metOLazonemethIMAzole
metoprolol succinatemetoprolol tartrate
metoprolol tartratemetoprolol succinate
metroNIDAZOLE metFORMIN
metyraPONE metyroSINE
metyroSINE metyraPONE
MicrozideMaxzide
miFEPRIStonemiSOPROStol
MiralaxMirapex
MirapexMiralax
miSOPROStolmiFEPRIStone
mitoMYcinmitoXANTRONE
mitoXANTRONE mitoMYcin
morphineHYDROmorphone
morphine - non-concentrated oral liquidmorphine - oral liquid concentrate
morphine - oral liquid concentratemorphine - non-concentrated oral liquid
MotrinNeurontin
MS ContinOxyCONTIN
Mucinex DMucinex DM
Mucinex DMMucinex D
MyleranAlkeran
MyleranLeukeran
nalbuphinenaloxone
naloxoneLanoxin
naloxonenalbuphine
Neo-Synephrine (oxymetazoline)Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine)
Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine)Neo-Synephrine (oxymetazoline)
neratinibnilotinib
neratinibniraparib
NeulastaLunesta
NeulastaNuedexta
NeurontinMotrin
Neutra-Phos-KK-Phos Neutral
NexAVARNexIUM
NexIUMNexAVAR
niCARdipineNIFEdipine
niCARdipine +niMODipine
NIFEdipineniCARdipine
NIFEdipineniMODipine
nilotinibneratinib
nilotinibniraparib
niMODipineniCARdipine
niMODipineNIFEdipine
niraparibneratinib
niraparibnilotinib
NovoLINHumuLIN
NovoLINNovoLOG
NovoLIN 70/30NovoLOG Mix 70/30
NovoLOGHumaLOG
NovoLOGNovoLIN
NovoLOG FLEXPENNovoLOG Mix 70/30 FLEXPEN
NovoLOG Mix 70/30NovoLIN 70/30
NovoLOG Mix 70/30 FLEXPENNovoLOG FLEXPEN
NuedextaNeulasta
nystatinHMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins")
OLANZapineQUEtiapine
omeprazolefomepizole
OraceaOrencia
OrenciaOracea
OrthoTri-CyclenOrtho Tri-Cyclen LO
Ortho Tri-Cyclen LOOrthoTri-Cyclen
Os-CalAsacol
oxaprozinOXcarbazepine
OXcarbazepinecarBAMazepine
OXcarebazepineoxaprozin
oxybutyninoxyCODONE
oxyCODONE HYDROcodone
oxyCODONE oxybutynin
oxyCODONE OxyCONTIN
oxyCODONE oxyMORphone
OxyCONTINMS Contin
OxyCONTINoxyCODONE
OxyCONTINoxyMORphone
oxyMORphoneHYDROmorphone
oxyMORphoneoxyCODONE
oxyMORphoneOxyCONTIN
PACLitaxelDOCEtaxel
PACLitaxelPACLitaxel protein-bound particles
PACLitaxel protein-bound particlesPACLitaxel
PamelorTambocor
PARoxetineDULoxetine
PARoxetineFLUoxetine
PARoxetinepiroxicam
PaxilDoxil
PaxilPlavix
PAZOPanibPONATinib
PEMEtrexedPRALAtrexate
penicillAMINE penicillin
penicillinpenicillAMINE
perflutren lipid microspheresinfluenza virus vaccine
PENTobarbitalPHENobarbital
PexevaLexiva
PHENobarbitalPENTobarbital
piroxicamPARoxetine
PlavixPaxil
PlavixPradaxa
polyethylene glycolpropylene glycol
PONATinibPAZOPanib
potassium acetatesodium acetate
PradaxaPlavix
PRALAtrexatePEMEtrexed
prednisoLONE predniSONE
predniSONE prednisoLONE
PrenexaRanexa
PriLOSECPristiq
PriLOSECPROzac
PristiqPriLOSEC
PrografProscar
PrografPROzac
propylene glycolpolyethylene glycol
propylthiouracilPurinethol
ProscarPrograf
ProscarProvera
protamineProtonix
proton pump inhibitorsARIPiprazole
ProtonixLotronex
Protonixprotamine
ProveraProscar
ProveraPROzac
PROzacPriLOSEC
PROzacPrograf
PROzacProvera
Purinetholpropylthiouracil
Pyridiumpyridoxine
pyridoxinePyridium
QUEtiapineOLANZapine
quiNIDinequiNINE
quiNINE quiNIDine
RABEprazoleARIPiprazole
RanexaPrenexa
raNITIdineriMANTAdine
RapafloRapamune
RapamuneRapaflo
RazadyneRozerem
RenagelRenvela
RenvelaRenagel
repagliniderasagiline
RestorilRisperDAL
Retrovirritonavir
ribavirinriboflavin
riboflavinribavirin
rifabutinrifapentine
RifadinRifater
Rifamaterifampin
rifAMPinRifamate
rifAMPinrifAXIMin
rifapentinerifabutin
RifaterRifadin
rifAXIMinrifAMPin
riMANTAdineraNITIdine
RisperDALRestoril
RisperDALrOPINIRole
risperiDONE rOPINIRole
ritonavirRetrovir
RituxanRituxan Hycela
Rituxan HycelaRituxan
riTUXimabinFLIXimab
romiDEPsinromiPLOStim
romiPLOStimromiDEPsin
rOPINIRoleRisperDAL
rOPINIRolerisperiDONE
RozeremRazadyne
Salagenselegiline
SandIMMUNESandoSTATIN
SandoSTATINSandIMMUNE
sAXagliptinSITagliptin
selegilineSalagen
SEROquelSEROquel XR
SEROquel XRSEROquel
sertralinecetirizine
sertralineSoriatane
silodosinsirolimus
SinemetJanumet
sirolimussilodosin
SITagliptinsAXagliptin
SITagliptinSUMAtriptan
sodium acetatepotassium acetate
Solu-CORTEFSOLU-Medrol
SOLU-MedrolDEPO-Medrol
SOLU-MedrolSolu-CORTEF
SonataSoriatane
SORAfenibSUNItinib
Soriatanesertraline
SoriataneSonata
sotalolSudafed
SpirivaApidra
SpirivaInspra
stavudinecetirizine
Sudafedsotalol
SudafedSudafed PE
Sudafed 12 HourSudafed 12 Hour Pressure + Pain
Sudafed 12 Hour Pressure + PainSudafed 12 Hour
Sudafed PESudafed
SUFentanilfentaNYL
sulfADIAZINE sulfaSALAzine
sulfaSALAzinecefuroxime
sulfaSALAzinesulfADIAZINE
SUMAtriptanSITagliptin
SUMAtriptanZOLMitriptan
SUNItinibSORAfenib
SymbyaxCymbalta
tacrolimustamsulosin
TambocorPamelor
TarcevaTresiba
TaxolPaxil
TaxolTaxotere
TaxotereTaxol
TEGretolTEGretol XR
TEGretol XRTEGretol
tetanus diphtheria toxoid (Td)tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD)
Thalomidthiamine
thiamineThalomid
tiaGABinetiZANidine
TiazacZiac
tiZANidinetiaGABine
TNKaseActivase
TNKaset-PA
TobradexTobrex
TobrexTobradex
TopamaxToprol-XL
Toprol-XLTopamax
ToujeoTradjenta
ToujeoTresiba
ToujeoTrulicity
t-PATNKase
TracleerTricor
TradjentaToujeo
TradjentaTresiba
TradjentaTrulicity
traMADoltraZODone
trastuzumabado-trastuzumab emtansine
traZODonetraMADol
TresibaTarceva
TresibaToujeo
TresibaTradjenta
TresibaTrulicity
tretinoinISOtretinoin
TricorTracleer
TrulicityToujeo
TrulicityTradjenta
TrulicityTresiba
tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD)influenza virus vaccine
tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD)tetanus diphtheria toxoid (Td)
TylenolTylenol PM
Tylenol PMTylenol
Ultramlithium
valACYclovirvalGANciclovir
ValcyteValtrex
valGANciclovirvalACYclovir
ValtrexValcyte
VarivaxVZIG (varicella-zoster immune globulin)
vasopressindesmopressin
VenoferVfend
VenoferVimpat
VfendVenofer
VfendVimpat
ViagraAllegra
VidexBidex
vigabatrindabigatran
VimpatVenofer
VimpatVfend
vinBLAStinevinCRIStine
vinCRIStinevinBLAStine
ViraceptViramune
ViramuneViracept
VisionBluemethylene blue
VZIG (varicella-zoster immune globulin)Varivax
Wellbutrin SRWellbutrin XL
Wellbutrin XLWellbutrin SR
XanaxFanapt
XanaxTenex
XanaxZantac
XelodaXenical
XenicalXeloda
YasminYaz
YazYasmin
ZantacXanax
ZantacZyrTEC
ZegeridZestril
ZelaparZyPREXAZydis
ZeritZyrTEC
ZestrilZegerid
ZestrilZetia
ZestrilZyPREXA
ZetiaZestril
ZiacTiazac
ZocorCozaar
ZocorZyrTEC
ZOLMitriptanSUMAtriptan
zolpidemZyloprim
ZostrixZovirax
ZoviraxZostrix
ZoviraxZyvox
Zyloprimzolpidem
ZyPREXACeleXA
ZyPREXAZestril
ZyPREXAZyrTEC
ZyPREXA ZydisZelapar
ZyrTECLipitor
ZyrTECZantac
ZyrTECZerit
ZyrTECZocor
ZyrTECZyPREXA
ZyrTECZyrTEC-D
ZyrTEC (cetirizine)ZyrTEC Itchy Eye Drops (ketotifen fumarate)
ZyrTEC-DZyrTEC
ZyrTEC Itchy Eye Drops (ketotifen fumarate)ZyrTEC (cetirizine)
ZyvoxZovirax

Brand names always start with an upper case letter. Some brand names incorporate tall man letters in initial characters and may not be readily recognized as brand names. Brand name products appear in black; generic/other products appear in red.