Introduction to Pharmacology: Drug Nomenclature

Lecturer

• Dr. Bill Deal-Jones
• Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University

Key Topics

• Drug Nomenclature
• Types of Drug Formulations
• Drug Acronyms
• Naming Errors and Confusions
• Resources for Drug Information

Drug Nomenclature

• Three names for drugs:
  • Chemical Name: e.g., 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid
  • Generic or Non-proprietary Name: e.g., acetyl salicylic acid (ASA)
  • Trade or Brand Name: e.g., Bayer aspirin, Antrophin
  • Note: Trade names are registered trademarks.

Types of Drug Formulations

• Iron Supplements:
  • Generic names: ferrous gluconate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate
  • Different formulations affect tolerance, dosage, and bioavailability.

Drug Acronyms

• Examples:
  • Diltiazem CD: Controlled Delivery
    • Features: sugar beads coated with drug and rate-controlling polymer.
    • Effect: Two peaks in drug release over 24 hours.
  • Diltiazem ER: Extended Release
    • Features: Paste converts to coated beads for uniform release.
  • Other acronyms: CR (Controlled Release), LA (Long-Acting), SR (Sustained Release), TR (Timed Release), XL (Extended Release)

Naming Errors and Confusions

• Prescribing issues:
  • Generic vs. Trade Names: Generic preferred to avoid bias and confusion.
  • Examples of possible errors:
    • Oxycodone: Trade name variations (e.g., OxyContin, Percodan)
    • Ranitidine: Different doses for generic (125 mg) vs. trade (150 mg) name Zantac.
  • Duplicate orders: Different trade names for the same drug (e.g., lisinopril as Prinvil or Zestrel).
  • Sound-alike names: Celebrex vs. Celexa.

International Trade Name Differences

• Examples:
  • Omeprazole: Marketed as Losec or Prilosec
  • Nifedipine: Marketed as Adalat or Procardia
  • Combination products: Diazide (hydrochlorazine thiazide + triamterine)

Resources for Drug Information

• Validated Sources:
  • Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS)
    • Features: Drug monographs, clinical information, brand/generic name indices
  • Rxtx: Authoritative Canadian source, continuously updated
  • Anti-Infective Guidelines for Community-Acquired Infections
    • Canadian content, updated annually
  • Merck Manual
• Non-validated Sources:
  • Wikipedia, Drugs Online, WebMD: Not reliable or updated for Canadian context

Conclusion

• It's critical to use respected drug resources for accurate information on drug actions and dosages.