Using tall man letters in drug labeling (for example, HumaLOG and HumuLIN) is gaining wider acceptance, according to a recent survey conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Sixty-four percent of the 451 survey respondents said this type of lettering, which draws attention to the differences in otherwise-similar drug names, has prevented them from dispensing or administering the wrong drug.

Tall man letters aren't meant to replace drug name safety testing, which is aimed at preventing drugs with similar names from coming onto the market. As part of its Name Differentiation Project, the FDA has approved tall man lettering for 33 generic drug names. Based on responses to its survey, the ISMP developed a list of 42 additional pairs of drug names that might benefit from being written with tall man letters (see chart below). Tall man letters should be used on computer-generated pharmacy labels, pharmacy computer drug selection screens, shelf labels, automated dispensing cabinet screens, computer- generated medication administration records, and preprinted order sheets.

FDA-approved generic drug names with tall man letters

acetoHEXAMIDE—acetaZOLAMIDE

buPROPion—busPIRone

chlorproMAZINE—chlorproPAMIDE

clomiPHENE—clomiPRAMINE

cycloSPORINE—cycloSERINE

DAUNOrubicin—DOXOrubicin

dimenhyDRINATE—diphenhydrAMINE

DOBUTamine—DOPamine

glipiZIDE—glyBURIDE

hydrALAZINE—hydrOXYzine

medroxyPROGESTERone

methylPREDNISolone

methylTESTOSTERone

niCARdipine—NIFEdipine

predniSONE—prenisoLONE

sulfADIAZINE—sulfiSOXAZOLE

TOLAZamide—TOLBUTamide

vinBLAStine—vinCRIStine

ALPRAZolam—LORazepam

amLODIPine—aMILoride

azaCITIDine—azaTHIOprine

ceFAZolin—cefTRIAXone

CeleBREX—CeleXA

chlorproMAZINE—chlordiazePOXIDE

CISplatin—CARBOplatin

clonazePAM—cloNIDine

clonazePAM—LORazepam

cloNIDine—KlonoPIN

DACTINomycin—DAPTOmycin

ePHEDrine—EPINEPHrine

fentaNYL—SUFentanil

FLUoxetine—DULoxetine

guanFACINE—guaiFENesin

HumaLOG—HumuLIN

HYDROcodone—oxyCODONE

IDArubicin—DOXOrubicin

INVanz—AVINza

LaMICtal—LamiSIL

lamiVUDine—lamoTRIgine

metroNIDAZOLE—metFORMIN

morphine—HYDROmorphone

NexIUM—NexAVAR

niMODipine—NIFEdipine

NovoLOG—NovoLIN

OXcarbazepine—carBAMazepine

oxyCODONE—OxyCONTIN

PARoxetine—FLUoxetine

PENTobarbital—PHENonbarbital

PriLOSEC—PROzac

QUEtiapine—OLANZapine

quiNINE—quiNIDine

riTUXimab—inFLIXimab

SandIMMUNE—SandoSTATIN

SEROquel—SINEquan

Solu-MEDROL—Solu-CORTEF

SUMAtriptan—sitaGLIPtin

tiZANidine—tiaGABine

traZODone—traMADol

TRENtal—TEGretol

ZyPREXA—ZyrTEC G