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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

 

 

ISMP's suggested list of additional drug names with tall man letters

 

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