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Biotech / Medical : Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sim1 who wrote (800)	7/16/1999 7:23:00 PM
From: mike head	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4974

Let me follow Stuart with this... (They heard you complain, Rick -g-) ISMP Calls for Name Change for Celebrex Apr. 8, 1999: Because of 40 documented medication errors involving sound-alike/look-alike confusion, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices is calling on FDA to change the trade name of Celebrex (celecoxib; Searle, Pfizer). ISMP is warning health care practitioners and consumers to take special care in prescribing, dispensing, and using the new COX-2 inhibitor. ISMP has previously taken its concerns about the potential for name confusion directly to Searle and Pfizer and warned practitioners in previous issues of its Medication Safety Alert. ISMP says Celebrex medication errors stem from the similarity of its name with those of Forest Laboratoriesâ Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) and Parke-Davis's Cerebyx (fosphenytoin). Most errors have so far resulted from misinterpretation of written orders. However, ISMP warns that the potential for sound-alike errors in verbal orders is also high, particularly for prescribers and other practitioners for whom English is a second language. This is especially true for those spoken accents in which it might be difficult to differentiate between the "L" and "R" sounds in the middle of trade names. ISMP recommends that health care professionals and consumers take the following actions to ensure safe use of Celebrex: Prescribers should always include the purpose of the medication on the prescription order for all three of these drugs. Prescribers should be reminded to print orders clearly. Prescribers should use both the generic and brand names, since their generic names are less likely to be misinterpreted. An alert should be added to pharmacy or hospital computer systems warning pharmacists and other practitioners to question the indication for the drug if it is not stated on the drug order. Pharmacy staff and other practitioners should confirm the drugâs indication, if the prescription does not state it clearly. Pharmacists, nurses, and other practitioners should repeat verbal orders back to the prescriber and clearly communicate understanding of the drugâs indication. Patients should always double-check with the pharmacist to make sure they have received the correct agent. Before dispensing, pharmacists should counsel patients on the use of these medications. For more information about drugs mentioned in this article, refer to the appropriate listing in PharmInfoNet's DrugDB.