Drugs Names
One of the most confusing aspects of pharmacology is naming drugs. A drug is
given three names. Each is used in a different area of the drug industry. These
names are the drug’s chemical name, generic name, and brand name.CHEMICAL NAME
The chemical name identifies chemical elements and compounds that are found
in the drug. The chemical name is important to chemists, pharmacists, and
researchers who work with drugs at the chemical level.
A chemical name looks strange to anyone who isn’t a chemist and is difficult
for most of us to pronounce. That’s why names other than the chemical name
are given to a drug. Here is the chemical name for a commonly used drug:
N-acetyl-p-aminophenol.GENERIC NAME
The generic name of a drug is the universally accepted name and considered the
official proprietary name for the drug. The generic name appears on all drug
labels and is the official name listed in official sources such as the Physicians
Desk Reference (PDR). The pharmaceutical company that patents a drug has
exclusive rights to sell it until the patent expires. When the patent expires, other
drugmanufacturers may distribute the drug under the drug’s generic name or
create a brand name. The generic version of a drug may be cheaper than the
original drug and the cost is usually reimbursed by insurance companies. An
example of a generic name for a commonly used drug is acetaminophen. The
generic name is easier to read and pronounce than the drug’s chemical name,
N-acetyl-p-aminophenol.BRAND/TRADE NAME
Drug companies often select and copyright a trade or brand name for their drug.
This restricts the use of this name to that particular company. Many brand names
may exist for the same chemical compound.
Brand name drugs may be more costly than generic drugs and are partially
reimbursed or not covered at all by insurance companies.
A brand name for acetaminophen is Tylenol (patented by Johnson & Johnson
Pharmaceuticals).(^6) CHAPTER 1 An Inside Look at Pharmacology