The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7283 p85
24 January 2004

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  Prescription checking
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Letters to the Editor

Nomenclature

How Martindale can help with names

From Mr S. C. Sweetman, FRPharmS, and Mrs J. M. McGlashan, MRPharmS

We were interested to read the comments on creating safer product names by James Dettore (PJ, 3/10 January, p32).

At Martindale we have long been aware of the confusion that may arise over products with the same or similar names and containing different ingredients. Perhaps one of the more notable examples is Benoral, which is applied to preparations of benorylate in the UK and Ireland but to a preparation of benzathine phenoxymethylpenicillin in Spain. To assist readers, we flag such products with a warning in both the printed and electronic versions.

It is not uncommon for us to receive a letter from a manufacturer complaining that “its” new trade name has been attributed to a different product when the problem could have been avoided altogether by a simple check in Martindale or a similar reliable international source. This is especially important where a check for international novelty is not mandatory during the product registration procedure.

A related problem occurs when the ingredients of an established product are changed (see PJ, 17 June 2000, p914 and resulting correspondence on formulation changes for Benadryl). Martindale includes notes of these formulation changes. In addition, to help manufacturers avoid reusing names, we retain in the electronic versions records of preparations listed as formerly marketed since the late 1980s.

We are also aware of the problems that arise with names which look or sound alike. Pharmacists old enough to remember handwritten prescriptions will recall the potential for confusion between Navidrex K and Neonaclex K but the problem still exists with printed prescriptions and telephone orders. A project is under way to identify these and it is hoped that this information will be included in electronic versions of Martindale later this year.

Sean Sweetman
Editor

Julie McGlashan
Assistant editor (electronic)
Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference

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