I have become aware of something I fear is a new trend.

I would like to know if there are more examples of this in other

countries.

Some companies market their tablets in different brands for different

indications. The tablets may differ in colour and/or imprint, but can also

be identical. The brand names may be totally different, but can also

differ only by a suffix of two letters.

Rofecoxib

Sweden: Vioxx and Vioxxakut, MSD

Norway: Vioxx and Vioxx AC, MSD

Denmark: Vioxx and Vioxxalt, MSD

Germany: Vioxx and Vioxxdolor, MSD

Bisoprolol

Sweden and Norway: Emconcor and Emconcor CHF, Merck

Denmark: Emconcor and Cardicor, Merck

Germany: Concor and ConcorCor, Merck

In these days of parallel import and generics, this creates a lot of

confusion and uncertainty in the pharmacies. And I fear delay and

medication errors.