Zyrtec or Zantac? Beware of medication mix-ups.(SAFETY ALERT)(Table)

As much as 25 percent of drug errors--when someone gets the wrong prescription, say, or the wrong dosage--occur when the name of one drug looks or sounds like another. Poor penmanship, sloppy pronunciation, and look-alike labels make the problem worse.

 
Commonly confused drugs 
 
DRUG                                      CONFUSED WITH 
 
Celebrex (celecoxib), for arthritis     Celexa (citalopram), for 
                                        depression 
 
Catapres (clonidine), for hypertension  Klonopin (clonazepam), for 
                                        anxiety and seizures 
 
Lamisil (terbinafine), for fungal       Lamictal (lamotrigine), for 
infections                              seizures and bipolar disorder 
 
 
Flagyl (metronidazole), an antibiotic   Fortamet, Glucophage (metformin), 
                                        for type 2 diabetes 
 
Ditropan (oxybutynin), for overactive   Oxycontin (oxycodone), for pain 
bladder 
 
Prilosec (omeprazole), for ulcers and   Prozac (fluoxetine), for 
acid reflux                             depression 
 
Zoloft (sertraline), for depression     Seroquel (quetiapine), for 
                                        ...