LOOK ALIKE

SOUND ALIKE DRUGS

(LASA)
Many drug packaging and drug names can look or sound like other drugs which may lead to potentially
harmful medication errors. Below is an updated list of commonly confused drugs which shall be
considered as Look Alike Sound Alike Drugs (LASA).

Commonly Confused Drugs Because of Similarity in Packaging

CILOSTAZOL REBAMIPIDE
(PLETAAL 50MG TAB) (MUCOSTA 100MG TAB)
CEFIXIME CEFIXIME
(TERGECEF 100MG CAP) (TERGECEF 200MG CAP)

CO-AMOXICLAV CO-AMOXICLAV
CO-AMOXICLAV CO-AMOXICLAV (AUGMENTIN 625 MG TAB) (AUGMENTIN 1 G TAB)
(AMOCLAV 625 MG TAB) (AMOCLAV 1 G TAB)

CIPROFLOXACIN CIPROFLOXACIN
(CIPROBAY 100MG/ (CIPROBAY 200MG/ DEXTROSE 50%
ISOTONIC NACL 50ML VIAL
50ML VIAL) 100ML VIAL) INJECTION 50 ML VIAL

1 Cardinal Santos Medical Center | Pharmacy Department : Look Alike Sound Alike Drugs (LASA): August 2014
 LANSOPRAZOLE PREGABALIN
SPIRONOLACTONE SPIRONOLACTONE
(PREVACID 30MG CAP) (LYRICA 150MG CAP)
(ALDACTONE 100 MG TAB) (ALDACTONE 50 MG TAB)

URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID
(URSOFALK 250MG CAP)
SPIRONOLACTONE SPIRONOLACTONE +
(ALDACTONE 25 MG TAB) HYDROFLUMETHIAZIDE
(ALDAZIDE 25MG/25MG TAB)

MUPIROCIN
(BACTROBAN 2% 20MG/G 5G OINTMENT)

SALBUTAMOL+
FLUCLOXACILLIN CARBOCISTEINE
(STAFLOXIN 500MG CAP) (SOLMUX BRONCHO MUPIROCIN
2MG/500MG CAP) (BACTROBAN 2% 20MG/G 5G CREAM)

AMPICILLIN NA+ SULBACTAM NA ( UNASYN VIAL )

HEPATITIS B VACCINE HEPATITIS B VACCINE

(ENGERIX B PEDIA (ENGERIX B ADULT
10MCG /0.5ML VIAL) 375MG 750MG 1.5G
20MCG/1ML VIAL)

2 Cardinal Santos Medical Center | Pharmacy Department : Look Alike Sound Alike Drugs (LASA): August 2014
 DIPHENHYDRAMINE 50MG/ML AMP
ePHEdrine sulfate 50MG/ML AMP
CO-AMOXICLAV MEROPENEM
HYOSCINE-N-BUTYLBROMIDE (SPASMOSAN 20MG/ML AMP)
(AMOCLAV 600MG VIAL) (MEROP 1G VIAL)
MORPHINE SULFATE 10MG AMP
ePHInephrine 1MG/ML AMP
ATROPINE SULFATE 0.5MG/ML AMP HIZON

TERAZOSIN HCl TERAZOSIN HCl

(HYTRIN 1 MG TAB) (HYTRIN 5 MG TAB)

RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM

(PARIET 10 MG TAB) (PARIET 20 MG TAB)

HYDROCORTISONE NA METHYLPREDNISOLONE NA
CEFOXITIN 1G CEFTRIAXONE 1G SUCCINATE SUCCINATE
DUPLEX B BRAUN DUPLEX B BRAUN ( solu-CORTEF ( solu-MEDROL
100 MG ACT-O-VIAL ) 125MG VIAL )

3 Cardinal Santos Medical Center | Pharmacy Department : Look Alike Sound Alike Drugs (LASA): August 2014
 HUMAN RABIES IMMUNOGLOBULIN
(BERIRAB P 300 IU/2ML PFS )

TOBRAMYCIN +
TOBRAMYCIN DEXAMETHASONE
(toBREX 3.5G EYE OINTMENT ) (toBRAdex 3.5G EYE OINTMENT )

TOBRAMYCIN TOBRAMYCIN +
(toBREX 5ML EYE DROPS ) DEXAMETHASONE
(toBRAdex 5ML EYE DROPS)
HUMAN TETANUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN
(TETAGAM P 250 IU/ML PFS)

Commonly Confused Drugs Because of Sound and Spelling

CISplatin - CARBOplatin doBUtamine - doPAmine

DULoxetine - FLUoxetine ePHEdrine - ePHInephrine

foLIC acid - foliNIC acid gliCLAZide – gliPIZide - gliMEPIRide

hyDRAlazine - HyDROxyzine predniSONE - prednisoLONE

solu-CORTEF® - solu-MEDROL® toBREX® - toBRAdex®

vinCRISTINE - vinBLASTINE

Recommendation for Handling LASA drugs :

1. Look-Alike & Sound-Alike drugs should be ordered using both generic & brand names.
2. Accept verbal or telephone orders only when truly necessary. Encourage staff to read back all
orders and spell the product’s name.
3. Store in separate locations.
4. Always double check before transcribing, posting, dispensing, and administration.
5. Use of tallman lettering is recommended (ex. doBUtamine )

4 Cardinal Santos Medical Center | Pharmacy Department : Look Alike Sound Alike Drugs (LASA): August 2014