Nevada News: Topamax/Toprol-XL

April 1, 2006 10:57 AM Topics: Prescriptions and Patient counseling

Reprinted from the April 2006 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

Based on a review of spontaneous reports submitted to Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and the United States Pharmocopeia, prescriptions for Topamax^® (topiramate) and Toprol-XL^® (metoprolol succinate) have been incorrectly written, interpreted, labeled, and/or dispensed. Possible explanations for these errors include similarity in names, proximity of the two products on the shelf, proximity in computer listings, and similar dosage strengths. Board staff urges you to pay particular attention when verifying and dispensing oral and written prescriptions for these two medications. Two other sets of medications that should be on your radar are Seroquel^®/Serzone^®, and Roxinal^®/Roxicet^®. This is another illustration of the importance of counseling.