Brand and Generic Names of Medications
Drug is defined, in broad and very non-specific terms as any substance that is taken into the body, through any means, intended to alter the body functions and processes. Drugs may be used as cures for certain medical conditions, or they may also be used purely for recreational purposes. In pharmacology, Dictionary.com defines a drug as "a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being." Drugs may be prescribed for a limited duration, or on a regular basis for chronic disorders.
When a drug is first discovered, it is given a chemical name according to its chemical composition and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry rules. Since chemical names are usually very long and complicated, its not feasible for pharmacists and researchers to use those names. The complexity of chemical name makes it impractical to remember every drug name. A shorthand version of drug name is thus devised, or a code is given to the chemical name until it is presented to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and approved. FDA then decides a formal name for that drug, known as Generic Drug Name. A brand name, also known as the trade name is then announced by the drug company. The trade name is developed by the company requesting approval for the drug and identifies it as the exclusive property of that company. For example, phenytoin is the generic name and Dilantin is a trade name for the same drug. When a drug is under patent protection, the company markets it under its trade name. When the drug becomes off-patent (no longer protected by patent), the company may market its product under either the generic name or the trade name. Other companies may sell the off-patent drug with the approved generic name from the company which holds the rights, and possibly different trade names.
In the United States, an official body—the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council—assigns the generic name. The trade name is developed by company which manufactures the drug. Generic and trade names must be unique to prevent one drug from being mistaken for another when drugs are prescribed and prescriptions are dispensed. FDA avoids possible confusions by agreeing to all the nomenclature offered to them from the pharmaceutical companies.
Government officials, researchers, doctors, and others who write about the new compounds use the drug’s generic name because it refers to the drug itself, not to a particular company’s brand of the drug or a specific product. However, doctors often use the trade name on prescriptions, because it is easier to remember and doctors usually learn about new drugs by the trade name.
Generic names thus are the technical names for the people related to field of medicine. For end-level consumer, trade names are there to help him/her remember what drug does what.
Generic vs brand name birth control
Women may become more aware of symptoms when they switch medications, she said. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has looked at the issue of brand-name versus generic oral contraception.
Generic Vs. Brand Medications
Generic Vs. Brand Medications at Real Online Pharmacies May 26, 2009. Brand name medications are those marketed und fef er popular and well known names, e.g. Viagra, Cialis, Phentermine, etc. These drugs are usually manufactured by giant.
Are Generic Drugs As Good As Brand Name Drugs?
Well now that I’m in my third week of this particular generic, that’s exactly what’s happening – I might as well not be taking any medication. I have asked my doctor to get me back on name brand Wellbutrin.
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