You probably know that all drugs have two names -- a chemical name, and a brand name. No two drugs can have the same chemical name. But no one is keeping track of brand names around the world.

So, a drug sold in another country can have the same brand name as the U.S. drug, but contain completely different ingredients.

That creates the potential for a serious mix-up if you travel and buy drugs outside the country.

In the U.S., Norpramin is an antidepressant. In Spain, Norpramin is an ulcer medicine.

Vivelle, a hormone treatment for menopause in this country, is a birth-control pill in Austria.

Men in the U.S. take Flomax to treat an enlarged prostate. In Italy, Flomax is the brand name of a pain reliever.

If you take prescription drugs and plan to travel outside the country for any length of time, you should try to take an extra supply with your.

At the very least, make sure you have a list of your meds, noting both the generic and brand names and why you're taking them. That could make a critical difference in your treatment if you're rushed to a hospital.

For More Information:

Consumers Filling U.S. Prescriptions Abroad May Get the Wrong Active Ingredient Because of Confusing Drug Names