FDA Warns of Medication Error: Name Confusion Between Risperidone and Ropinirole

Medication error reports have the FDA warning providers about giving patients risperidone (Risperdal) when they should be receiving ropinirole (Requip) and vice versa.

 

In some cases, patients who took the wrong medication needed to be hospitalized.

The FDA said the factors contributing to the confusion between the two products include:

  • similarities of both the brand and generic names;
  • similarities of the container labels and carton packaging;
  • illegible handwriting on prescriptions; and
  • overlapping product characteristics, such as the drug strengths, dosage forms, and dosing intervals

 

Risperidone (Risperdal) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and irritability associated with autistic disorder. Ropinirole (Requip) is a dopamine agonist used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Restless Legs Syndrome.

 

Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!

 

Read the FDA MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the Drug Safety Communication, by clicking here.

 

Related Articles on the FDA:

FDA to Investigate Hospitals for Medical Device Data Systems Compliance

FDA Approves Dificid Tablets for C. Difficile Infection

FDA, HRSA Send Joint Alert Concerning Weck Hem-o-Lok Ligating Clips

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 


Patient Safety Tools & Resources Database

Featured Webinars

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Podcast