Abstract

A SURVEY ON CONFUSING BRAND NAME / GENERIC NAME DRUG IN PRESCRIPTION

Chaudhari Pankaj M.*, Mahajan Sachin M., Patil Pankaj S. and
Dr. Patil Prakash S.

Abstract

The brand names of some products have phonetic or orthographic similarity. Such names may cause confusion during dispensing. If pharmacist dispenses confusing brand name/generic name drug containing totally different active ingredient, if may result in adverse events that causes harm to patient. Thus objective of study was to carry out survey of the personnel working in pharmacies to find out their awareness about confusing brand name/generic name drug products, the chances of errors that may occur during dispensing of Look alike/Sound alike drugs & suggest different means to avoid those errors. Major findings of the project are: 1) 70% of pharmacists are D. Pharm, 5% are B. Pharm and remaining 25% belong to other profession. 2) 75% of the pharmacists get confused due to spelling mistakes in the prescription whereas 25% do not get confused. 3) On confusion due to prescription 25% pharmacists send back the patient back to the doctor, 55% contact directly to the doctor, 10% assume themselves and remaining 10% take other measures. 4) 80% of pharmacists provide the non OTC drugs without prescription. 5) 35% of the pharmacists provide the drugs without prescription whereas 65% do not.

Keywords: Survey, Retail Pharmacist, Brand name/Generic name, Prescription.