Tall Man Letter Utilization for Look-Alike Drug Names (Resolution Number: 104-1-08)

May 20, 2008 3:08 PM Topics: Resolutions

Resolution Number: 104-1-08
Title: “TALL MAN” Letter Utilization for Look-Alike Drug Names
Action: Passed

Whereas, medication dispensing errors continue to occur as a result of look-alike prescription drug product names; and

Whereas, the use of “TALL MAN” letters highlighting the dissimilar letters in look-alike drug name pairs has been shown to assist in reducing these types of dispensing errors;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP work with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or other standard setting organizations to propose a national standard for “TALL MAN” lettering for look-alike drug names; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NABP encourage manufacturers of drug products with look-alike names, as identified by FDA, USP, or other standard-setting organizations, to use “TALL MAN” lettering on applicable product labels and avoid the use of look-alike names; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NABP encourage manufacturers of pharmacy data systems and software to recognize “TALL MAN” lettering standards within their systems.

(Resolution passed at the NABP 104th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD)