Abstract
To the Editor.— In his letter (222:210, 1972), Dr. Engelman describes instances where the use of generic names had led to errors in filling prescriptions, and he suggests that the use of a brand name might be advantageous. There is another safeguard that can be very helpful in preventing errors. I refer to including the intended purpose of the drug in the labeled instructions. Had the directions read: tab 1 qid for blood pressure, the pharmacist would certainly have recognized that methyldopa was intended, not levodopa. This is an added advantage of the procedure, the primary purpose being to better identify the drug to the patient. The system is equally applicable in prescribing brand name drugs, which are also often confusingly similar.
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