Using trade names: a risk factor for accidental drug overdose.
Medication errors due to the exclusive use of trade names of drugs may lead to life-threatening complications. We report the case of a patient with verapamil overdose as a result of this. This case illustrates that the use of trade names, omitting the international nonproprietary names of the active moiety, carries the risk of serious adverse drug events by overdose.
Schwab
Matthias
M
Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Auerbachstrasse 112, D-70376 Stuttgart, Germany. matthias.schwab@ikp-stuttgart.de
Oetzel
Carsten
C
Mörike
Klaus
K
Jägle
Christine
C
Gleiter
Christoph H
CH
Eichelbaum
Michel
M
D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D008508:Medication Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D014700:Verapamil