What is Avality, a medication, and its uses in an adult patient with no pre-existing medical conditions?

What is Avality?

Avality does not exist as a medication or recognized medical term in current clinical practice. Based on comprehensive review of medical literature, guidelines, and drug databases, there is no FDA-approved medication, medical device, or established clinical entity by this name.

Possible Explanations

Medication Name Confusion

• The term may represent a misspelling or mishearing of an actual medication name 1
• Common sound-alike medications that might be confused include:
  • Avelumab (BAVENCIO®): A PD-L1 blocking monoclonal antibody approved for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma 2
  • Availity: An electronic prior authorization technology platform used by healthcare providers and insurance companies, not a medication 3
  • AVAIL: The Adherence eValuation After Ischemic Stroke Longitudinal registry, a research study tracking medication adherence after stroke, not a drug 4

Clinical Context Matters

• If this question arose during medication reconciliation, verify the actual medication name directly from the patient's pill bottle, pharmacy records, or prescription label to avoid medication errors 1
• If discussing with a patient, medication-related communication problems are common among older adults and can lead to confusion about drug names, particularly when multiple medications are involved 1
• Electronic systems may autocorrect or misinterpret medication names during data entry, leading to documentation of non-existent drugs 3

Recommended Actions

Immediate Steps

• Clarify the source of this medication name with the patient, caregiver, or referring provider 5
• Review all medication bottles physically if available to identify the actual drug name 5
• Contact the patient's pharmacy to obtain an accurate medication list if uncertainty persists 1
• Check for recent prescriptions in electronic health records or prescription drug monitoring programs 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not assume the medication doesn't exist without thorough verification, as patients may use brand names, foreign names, or abbreviations 1
• Avoid dismissing patient reports of medications they believe they are taking, as this can damage therapeutic relationships and miss important safety issues 1
• Do not proceed with any clinical decisions based on an unverified medication name, as this could lead to dangerous drug interactions or contraindications 6, 5