title: Drug name alert: potential for confusion between pradax and plavix.
abstract: In this article, the authors highlight an incident that involved a mix-up between the oral anticoagulant medication Pradax (dabigatran etexilate) and the antiplatelet medication Plavix (clopidogrel). Because critical care nurses may admit or care for patients who are receiving (or have received) one of these medications, it is important that they be aware of the potential for confusion between these two drug names throughout the medication-use process.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada. ckoczmara@ismp-canada.org
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koczmara
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyland
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000069604:Dabigatran; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000451:nursing; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008509:Medication Systems; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000451:nursing; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000069604:Dabigatran; D013988:Ticlopidine