How prescription drugs get their names
Whenever we pick up a prescription medication, we see its name printed on the label—sildenafil, fluoxetine, alprazolam, or sertraline, for example. But have you ever wondered how those names are developed? Choosing what to call a medication is a careful process that blends scientific naming protocols with marketing and regulatory considerations. Prescription drugs undergo two naming processes: one for the generic (nonproprietary) version and one for the brand (proprietary) name. Generic names are assigned by international organizations, such as the U.S. Adopted Names (USAN) Council, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure consistency, clarity, and safety. Drug names follow strict guidelines describing the medication’s active ingredient, chemical makeup, or therapeutic effect. The drug manufacturer sits this part of the process out so that the name remains based purely on the drug’s chemical structure and allows prescribers globally to communicate about a drug without confusion. Take drugs...