Natru-Vent, an over-the-counter saline nasal spray manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Consumer Healthcare Products, has a name that looks and sounds like the prescription inhaler, Atrovent (ipratropium). These might be confused in verbal orders. Practitioners may misunderstand patients who say they have been using Natru-Vent for allergies, and Atrovent may be prescribed. In hospital settings where over-the-counter drugs require prescriber orders, illegible handwriting may also lead to confusion.
A mix-up could be harmful if Atrovent were mistakenly given to a patient with a peanut allergy. To avoid mix-ups, prescribers should spell names when giving verbal orders, educate patients to bring medications with them when assessing care, and advise patients to use a different saline nasal spray.
Copyright Springhouse Corporation Jun 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
Contact
Home
A
8-Hour Bayer