Which of the following pairs is considered a "Look-Alike/Sound-Alike" (LASA) risk?
Answer choices
- AMotrin / Advil
- BLisinopril / Zestril
- CPrednisone / Prednisolone
- DTylenol / Aspirin
About this question
Which drug pair is considered a Look-Alike/Sound-Alike (LASA) risk? On the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), Patient Safety questions reward technicians who spot names that look or sound similar but have different potencies or indications — a common shelf-selection hazard.
Brand twins that share the same active ingredient, or ordinary brand–generic pairs, are usually not the classic LASA exam trap. The correct-style example pairs drugs with confusingly similar names (such as prednisone and prednisolone) where a mix-up can change dose or therapy. Mastering true LASA patterns prevents wrong-drug selection on the Patient Safety domain.
Reveal answer & explanationShow
Correct answer
- AMotrin / Advil
- BLisinopril / Zestril
- CPrednisone / PrednisoloneCorrect
- DTylenol / Aspirin
Basic rationale
Prednisone and Prednisolone are commonly confused. Swapping them can cause serious dosing errors because they have different potencies.
Option explanations
- A: Incorrect. Both are brand names for ibuprofen—the same drug, not a LASA confusion risk.
- B: Incorrect. This is a generic/brand pair for the same medication, not two different drugs.
- C: Correct. These are different corticosteroids with very similar names—a classic LASA pair.
- D: Incorrect. These drugs have distinct names and are not commonly confused with each other.
Deep Analysis
Core logic
LASA (Look-Alike/Sound-Alike) drugs are different medications with names that look or sound similar enough to cause selection errors. Prednisone and Prednisolone are a classic LASA pair—both are corticosteroids with nearly identical names, but they are NOT interchangeable because they have different potencies and metabolic pathways.
Distractor analysis
A: Motrin and Advil are both brand names for ibuprofen—the same drug, not a confusion risk between two different drugs. B: Lisinopril and Zestril are generic/brand pairs for the same medication, not two different drugs that look alike. D: Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Aspirin have distinctly different names and therapeutic uses.
Exam trap
Don't confuse LASA pairs with generic/brand name pairs. LASA means two DIFFERENT drugs that could be mixed up—not the same drug sold under two names.
Memory tip
👀 LASA = 'Look-And-Sound-Alike'. If the names look/sound similar but the drugs are DIFFERENT, it's LASA.
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