Which are effective ways to help prevent medication errors? (Select all that apply)

Choice A reason: Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, does not significantly interact with aspirin’s antiplatelet effects. It primarily blocks histamine receptors, affecting allergies, not platelet aggregation. While it may cause drowsiness, it doesn’t increase bleeding risk or counteract aspirin’s cardiovascular benefits, making it safe to use concurrently with low-dose aspirin.

Choice B reason: Loratadine, a second-generation antihistamine, targets histamine receptors to relieve allergy symptoms. It has no known interaction with aspirin’s antiplatelet mechanism or bleeding risk. Its minimal side effect profile makes it compatible with low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular protection, so avoiding it is unnecessary in this context.

Choice C reason: Ibuprofen, an NSAID, competes with aspirin for COX-1 binding sites, reducing aspirin’s antiplatelet effect critical for preventing myocardial infarction and stroke. It also increases gastrointestinal bleeding risk when combined with aspirin, making it contraindicated for patients on low-dose aspirin therapy, thus the correct choice to avoid.

Choice D reason: Multivitamins do not interfere with aspirin’s antiplatelet action or increase bleeding risk. They provide supplemental nutrients without affecting COX-1 inhibition or platelet aggregation. There’s no pharmacological basis for avoiding multivitamins with low-dose aspirin, making this choice irrelevant for the patient’s cardiovascular regimen.

Choice A reason: Trade names are brand-specific (e.g., Tylenol for acetaminophen). N-acetyl-para-aminophenol is the chemical structure name, not a marketed brand. Trade names are proprietary and vary by manufacturer, while chemical names describe molecular composition, making this choice incorrect for the given term.

Choice B reason: Proprietary names are brand names owned by manufacturers (e.g., Advil for ibuprofen). N-acetyl-para-aminophenol is the chemical name for acetaminophen, not a proprietary or trade name, which is used for marketing purposes, making this choice incorrect for the drug’s nomenclature.

Choice C reason: Generic names are non-proprietary, like acetaminophen for N-acetyl-para-aminophenol. The term given is the chemical name, describing the molecular structure, not the standardized generic name used in clinical practice, making this choice incorrect for classifying N-acetyl-para-aminophenol.

Choice D reason: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol is the chemical name for acetaminophen, describing its molecular structure (an acetyl group on a para-aminophenol backbone). Chemical names are used in scientific contexts, distinct from generic or trade names, making this the correct choice for the drug’s nomenclature.