Islamic Republic of Iran - The Tehran Drug and Poison Information Centre has informed the World Health Organization that a combination product containing the anti-Parkinson drugs carbidopa and levodopa is being imported into Iran from Greece with the trade name Zimox®. Zimox® is also the name of a product well known to contain the anti biotic amoxicillin and is cited in reference books such as Martindale and Index Nominum.

The Centre is concerned about the potential for error that could result from this duplication of trade names. Information has been forwarded to the national drug authorities in order to avoid preventable mistakes in the dispensing of Zimox®, and an announcement has also been circulated to health professionals.

The Centre urges pharmaceutical companies to establish beforehand whether the names chosen for their products have not already been used.

Reference: Communication from the Tehran Drug and Poison Information Centre, 24 November 1999.