Before you give that drug!

Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Drug Names

The drug names listed here resemble each other in terms of spelling or sound. Always double-check the medication order carefully before administering one of them to your patient. If you have any doubt about the appropriateness of the drug, consult the prescriber, the pharmacist, or a drug reference:

• amantadine and rimantadine

• amiodarone and amiloride

• amoxicillin and amoxapine

• benztropine and bromocriptine

• Celebrex and Celexa

• Celebrex and Cerebyx

• cimetidine and simethicone

• codeine and Cardene

• dexamethasone and desoximetasone

• digoxin and doxepin

• epinephrine and ephedrine

• epinephrine and norepinephrine

• flunisolide and fluocinonide

• hydromorphone and morphine

• hydroxyzine and hydralazine

• imipramine and desipramine

• Imuran and Inderal

• insulin glargine and insulin glulisine

• levothyroxine and liothyronine

• metformin and metronidazole

• naloxone and naltrexone

• nifedipine and nicardipine

• nitroglycerin and nitroprusside

• oxycontin and oxycodone

• pentobarbital and phenobarbital

• propylthiouracil and Purinethol

• Ritalin and Rifadin

• sitagliptin and sumatriptan

• sulfisoxazole and sulfasalazine

• vinblastine and vincristine

• Xanax and Zantac

• Zyrtec and Zyprexa.