Drugs can be confusing. In many cases they look or sound too much alike, and that can lead to medication mix-ups.

For example, ZYRTEC, a popular pill for allergies, sounds very similar to ZANTEC, which treats heartburn.

ABC News Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson says researchers examined thousands of records submitted to a medical error database. They found look-alike and sound-alike drugs are on the rise.

"There were nearly 3,200 pairs of similar drugs in 2006, nearly double the eighteen hundred for 2004," Dr. Johnson says.

To reduce confusion, researchers say prescription labels should include what condition the drug is for, such as allergies or a sedative.

So how can you avoid becoming a victim of a drug error? Keep a complete list of all your medications. Remember what they look like. If you always get a little blue pill and all of a sudden the pharmacist gives you a big red tablet -- you need to stop and ask some questions.

For More Information:

Boom in similar drug names fuels medicine mix-ups

List of sound-alike drugs

Joint commission report