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Drugs: brand names risk causing confusion

Highlighting the risk of confusion between drugs’ brand names should result in a name change for the brands concerned. This risk underscores the importance of using a drug’s international nonproprietary name (INN) when prescribing.

There are numerous examples of confusion between the brand names of two drugs which often have completely different effects. In 2006, the French Health Products Safety Agency, the AFSSAPS, published a list of errors resulting from confusion between brand names. The agency emphasises the importance for pharmacists to read prescriptions carefully. That is the very least one can expect. And yet the agency is particularly well placed to take measures to prevent such errors, by insisting on a name change if necessary.

It is important to treat the problem at the source, by using a drug’s international nonproprietary name (INN) in prescriptions, in the best interests of both patients and health professionals. The number of INNs -- which are a drug’s true name -- is far lower, and INNs are far more informative than brand names.

©Prescrire February 2007

Source: "Confusions entre noms commerciaux : l’AFSSAPS alerte mais ne corrige pas" Rev Prescrire 2007 ; 27 (280) : 98. - More articles in Prescrire's "Spotlight"...