Medication errors are a serious problem, causing between 44,000 and 98,000 deaths in the US each year at a cost of over $140 billion. They can damage patient trust in the healthcare system and reduce adherence to treatment. Common causes of errors include communication problems, look-alike and sound-alike drug names, poor handwriting, inadequate training, and system failures. To reduce errors, healthcare professionals must ensure the right patient receives the correct drug, dose, route, duration, and instructions. Special attention should be paid to labeling, storage, and disposal.