Cerebrex/cerebyx

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Has anyone ever seen an order for cerebyx written as cerebrex? I saw this on discharge orders today and wondered about it, and then saw the actual scrip written by the doc and sure enough, it was spelled out cerebrex. It was for seizures. But he just ordered it in mg. not mg. PE. We had to convert the patient back to phenytoin and I am still concerned about the conversion being correct.

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Yes and also Celebrex give IV...you know "Phosphorfentonin" for seizures?

One more argument for BOTH generic and brand name on Rx.

And sometimes some folks "guess" what the doctor meant. Hmmmmm

aimeee, BSN, RN

932 Posts

Oh, that's just pitiful! But the saddest part is, not surprising at all.

I would love to see the generic and brand name on the scrips!

I think I will call the hospital pharmacy in the morning, just to see what they were actually sending to the floor, to be sure it was mg PE and not the converted mg.

Zee_RN, BSN, RN

951 Posts

Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

Oh yeah, these are fun....

Cerebyx, Celebrex, Celexa..... (seizures, arthritis, depression)

Mix vigorously with a dollop of illegible physician's handwriting and you've got the recipe for mass confusion....

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I meant to add that the REASON should also be on the med order. Then MAYBE

Celebrex would actually BE for arthritis.

Of course then we would have the docs who do off label use.....oh well.

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I just remembered this that really happened. Lady is admitted and doc forgot to order her insulin, so he returns the nurse's call and gives the order "find out how much she takes and continue her REGULAR insulin."......(meaning USUAL) BUT guess what she got

50 units of..........?

SURG RN

1 Post

well, i work in surgery and we do not hear much of diff. medications. i had to reply an order or cerebyx, and wasnt for sure (thanks to my accent and my doc. accent) if it was celebrex.

The surgeon is a neurologist therefore i figure it was cerebyx...but wasnt 100 on it. the other doc. on the phone repeated the dosage and name back to me and it was correct.

ladyangel341

53 Posts

Gosh, confusing medications...doctor's should not mistakenly write that...i would really suggest that doctors should look the drug handbook first before ordering...if only they do that...nurses wont be confuse as well...by the way CEREBRYX (Fosphenytoin) thats for seizure and CELEBREX (Celecoxib) is an NSAIDS known use for arthritis

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