Look-Alike Medication Checker: Are These Names a Mix-Up?
Does the name on your bottle sound a lot like another medicine? Pick both names to see if they are a known mix-up pair.
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Check two medication names against known mix-up pairs
Pick the two names on the bottles or labels in front of you. This checks them against a documented list, it does not identify a pill.
Based on FDA and ISMP lists of confusable drug names, not a complete list and not a substitute for reading the label or asking your pharmacist.
How to use it
- Choose the first name from the dropdown, as it appears on your label.
- Choose the second name you think it might be confused with.
- Press the check button. You'll see either a note on a documented pair, or a message that the pair isn't one the tool tracks.
What your result means
A match means the two names are a known mix-up risk. The note tells you what each drug treats and what to double-check, such as the strength or the condition it's prescribed for. It doesn't mean you were given the wrong drug.
No match doesn't mean the names are safe to mix up. The tool uses a short, fixed list, and it can't identify a pill. It only compares names you pick.
A quick label check at the counter
Read the full drug name aloud, not just the first syllable. Make sure the condition it treats matches what your prescriber told you, and that the strength is what you expect. If the name sounds like something else you take, say so and ask the pharmacist to confirm. Our guide to how look-alike, sound-alike mix-ups happen explains why these errors occur and what pharmacies already do to catch them.
If you already took a dose of the wrong drug, see what to do after taking the wrong medication or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (U.S.). Never take a pill you can't identify.
Frequently asked questions
What does look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) mean?
It describes two different drugs whose names look or sound alike, or whose products look alike. The FDA and pharmacies track these pairs because the similarity itself causes mix-ups.
Which medications are commonly confused?
Well-documented pairs include Celebrex and Celexa, bupropion and buspirone, hydralazine and hydroxyzine, clonidine and Klonopin, Lamictal and Lamisil, and hydrocodone and hydromorphone. This tool checks 11 pairs from FDA and ISMP lists.
If my pair isn't listed, am I safe?
Not necessarily. The tool covers a fixed set of well-documented pairs, not every possible one. Read both labels in full and ask your pharmacist to confirm the drug and strength.
Why do some labels use odd capital letters, like hydrOXYzine?
That's tall man lettering. Capitalizing the letters that differ between two similar names helps the eye catch the difference.
What should I do if I think I was given the wrong drug?
Don't take it. Call the pharmacy so they can check what was dispensed against what was prescribed. If you've already taken a dose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (U.S.).
Related guides
- Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Medications: How Mix-Ups HappenTwo different drugs, similar names or looks, one mix-up. Here's how look-alike, sound-alike medication errors happen, the pairs to know, and how to catch one before it reaches your mouth.
- Accidentally Took the Wrong Medication? What to Do Right NowGrabbed the wrong bottle, doubled a dose, or swallowed a family member's pill by mistake? Here's the calm, step-by-step way to handle it, and when it's actually an emergency.
- Why Does My Pill Look Different After a Refill?A different color, shape or imprint at refill time is usually a generic manufacturer swap, not a mistake. Here's how to tell the difference and what to check before you take it.