From the July 2009 issue

There have been reported instances of medication errors due to name confusion between KAPIDEX (dexlansoprazole) and CASODEX (bicalutamide). Both written and verbal prescriptions have been dispensed in error. Kapidex is indicated for healing of erosive esophagitis, maintenance of healed erosive esophagitis, and treatment of symptomatic nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is available as 30 mg and 60 mg delayed-release capsules for oral administration. Casodex is indicated for use in combination therapy with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog for the treatment of stage D2 metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. Casodex is available as 50 mg tablets for oral administration. Patients who receive either drug in error could be unnecessarily subjected to unintended effects and/or adverse events. Specifically, Casodex is contraindicated in women. To reduce the potential for medication errors, please take time to verify written or verbal orders and build an alert in your computer system. Consider adding this pair to your confused drug name list. If you are a prescriber, please include the drug’s purpose on prescriptions.