What are drugs that have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error called?

Drugs that are considered to have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error are known as high alert drugs. These medications require extra safeguards to prevent errors because a mistake in their use can lead to serious adverse effects or complications for the patient.

Examples of high alert drugs often include anticoagulants, opioids, and some forms of insulin, amongst others. Due to their high risk, healthcare providers implement stricter protocols for their prescribing, dispensing, and administration. This can include additional verification processes or specific labeling practices to minimize the chance of a medication error.

Other categories such as schedule IV drugs pertain to regulations surrounding controlled substances, look-alike drugs involve the physical similarities that may confuse medications, and compounded drugs refer to those that are custom-made for patients based on specific needs. While all these categories are relevant in pharmacy practice, they do not specifically address the risk associated with medication errors in the same context as high alert drugs.