Drug Danger: Same Name Drugs in US, EU, Have Different Ingredients.

[Guest guest]

" Zeus " <info

Drug Danger: Same Name Drugs in US, EU, Have Different

Ingredients.

Mon, 5 Sep 2005 11:22:43 +0100

 

 

 

Drug Danger: Same U.S., Euro Drugs Have Different Ingredients

 

Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005

 

Many drugs in foreign countries have the same brand name as U.S.

medications, but contain completely different ingredients – creating

the danger of serious prescription mix-ups.

 

A safety alert issued to doctors and hospitals this year by the

Institute for Safe Medication Practices identified several drugs in

the U.S. that have the same name as different drugs sold by different

manufactures abroad, the Wall Street Journal reports.

 

Norpramin, an antidepressant in the U.S., is the name of an ulcer drug

in Spain.

 

Flomax, used for prostate disease in the U.S., has the same name as a

pain medication in Italy.

 

Vivelle, used in the U.S. to treat menopause and osteoporosis, is a

birth-control pill in Austria.

 

Dilacor in the U.S. is a blood-pressure drug known generically as

diltiazem, but in Brazil the brand name refers to verapamil for

irregular heart rhythm and hypertension, and in Serbia it is the brand

name for digoxin, used to treat heart failure.

 

Sominex, an over-the-counter sleep aid in the U.S., shares its name

with a sleep aid in the UK that could have extremely different side

effects.

 

For travelers who refill prescriptions in other countries, brand-name

mix-ups could result in " patients not getting a life-saving drug,

getting the wrong drug or suffering unexpected drug interactions –

especially elderly people who take multiple medications, " according to

the Journal.

 

There is currently no regulatory body that keeps track of drug names

globally.

 

Mike Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices,

said travelers should pack enough medication for their entire trip,

noting both brand and generic names, and dosages, of all drugs.

 

forwarded by

Zeus Information Service

Alternative Views on Health

www.zeusinfoservice.com

All information, data and material contained, presented or provided

herein is for general information purposes only and is not to be

construed as reflecting the knowledge or opinion of Zeus Information

Service.

Subscribe Free/Un: info