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What's the difference between ephedrine and epinephrine? Their names may look alike and sound alike, but these 2 drugs are hardly interchangeable. Epinephrine is a better vasoconstrictor than ephedrine but less of a stimulator to the central nervous system. Ephedrine, meanwhile, has a longer duration but a slower onset. Because ephedrine/epinephrine and other confusing look-alike/sound-alike drug pairs have similar names and may be stored in close proximity to one another, they can lead to potentially harmful medication errors if you don't take proper precautions to prevent them.
Here's my list of 10 common cases of look-alike/sound-alike drugs for ambulatory surgery and endoscopy facilities. You can also download the Institute for Safe Medication Practices' List of Confused Drug Names for 2010 at www.ismp.org/tools/confuseddrugnames.pdf.
The Joint Commission established a National Patient Safety Goal that requires accredited organizations to identify a list of look-alike or sound-alike drugs. Print copies of your top-10 list, laminate them and post them where they can be easily accessed, such as staff bulletin boards and at the nurses' station. In addition to being a valuable educational resource for your staff, the prominently displayed list will also let any surveyors know that you mean business when it comes to medication safety.
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Top 10 Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drugs for Surgical Facilities | |
Drug Names |
Description |
Acetohexamide | Acetoheximide is an oral anti-diabetic. |
Acetazolamide | Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used to increase fluid removal in glaucoma. |
Celebrex | Celebrex is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. |
Celexa | Celexa is used to treat major depressive disorders. |
Cerebyx | Cerebyx is an anti-seizure medication. |
Diprivan | Diprivan is the proprietary name for propofol. |
Ditropan | Ditropan is an antispasmodic used to treat overactive or neurogenic bladder. |
Ephedrine | Ephedrine is a bronchodilator used to treat shock and hypotension and to encourage bronchodilation. It has a longer duration but a slower onset. |
Epinephrine | Epinephrine is used to attenuate bronchospasms, anaphylaxis, allergic reactions, shock and cardiac arrest. Epinephrine is a better vasoconstrictor than ephedrine, but less of a stimulator to the central nervous system. |
Humulin | Humulin is available as short-acting (R), intermediate-acting (NPH) or long-acting (ultra lente), as well as in combination mixtures. It is of human derivation. |
Humalog | Humalog, also known as lispro, is rapid-acting and also available in a mixture for rapid action and intermediate duration. |
Novolin | Novolin is short- and intermediate-acting. |
Hydrocodone | Hydrocodone is known as Vicodin when combined with acetaminophen. |
Oxycodone | Oxycodone is most commonly marketed as Percocet, Tylox or Roxicet when combined with acetaminophen. |
Hydroxyzine | Hydroxyzine is a sedating anti-emetic, antihistamine anti-anxiety medication. |
Hydralazine | Hydralazine is used to treat hypertension. |
Lorazepam | Lorazepam, best known as Ativan, is a sedative/anti-anxiety preparation. |
Alprazolam | Alprazolam is best known as Xanax and used to treat anxiety. |
Plavix | Plavix challenges platelet aggregation. |
Paxil | Paxil is an antidepressant. |
Xanax | Xanax is alprazolam and used to treat anxiety. |
Zantac | Zantac is an H2 histamine antagonist used to challenge excessive acid production. |
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