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Sound-alikes, unusual dosages contribute to painkiller mix-ups
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 21, 2011
A study of more than 2,000 "near miss" medication errors involving analgesics at the Albany Medical Center in New York found a rate of 2.87 prescribing mistakes per 1,000 orders among adults and nearly 6 per 1,000 pediatric drug orders.
The leading causes of the mistakes were sound-alike drug names, unusual dosage regimens, modified dosage forms and drugs that could be administered in more than one way or are used on a 24-hour schedule, said the study in January's Journal of Pain (link).
Though most mistakes involved the most popular painkillers, less frequently prescribed analgesics such as buprenorphine and benzocaine had the highest error rates. Doctors -- less familiar with these drugs -- were more likely to make prescribing mistakes, the study said.
Nearly a quarter of the mistakes would have had potentially serious consequences, the study said. Researchers suggested that hospitals should limit the number of similar analgesics available in their formulary and have pharmacists review drug orders.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/02/21/prbf0221.htm.
