Drug nomenclature is the systematic naming of drugs, especially pharmaceutical drugs. The term drug nomenclature implies that there are several names that can be used to identify a drug. Normally drugs have three names: the chemical name, the generic name, and the trade name (brand name).

1. Prof. Amol B. Deore
Department of Pharmacology
MVP’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nashik
DRUG NOMENCLATURE

2. Drug Nomenclature
 the systematic naming of drugs, especially pharmaceutical
drugs.
 The term drug nomenclature implies that there are several
names that can be used to identify a drug.

3. Chemical Name
Generic Name
Trade name (Brand name)

4. CHEMICAL NAME

5. • the scientific names
• based on the molecular structure of the drug
• arrangement of atom and atomic groups in the drug molecule
• the IUPAC name
• very long and too complex
• never used in mentioning to a drug in speech or
in documents or
in prescriptions or
in a clinical or
marketing situation
Specifications of the Chemical name

6. For example-
Drug Chemical name
Paracetamol
(antipyretic)
N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide
Atorvastatin
(Antihyperlipidemic)
(3R,5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-phenyl-4-
(phenylcarbamoyl)-5-propan-2-ylpyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-
dihydroxyheptanoic acid
Diazepam
(hypnotic)
9-chloro-2-methyl-6-phenyl-2,5-
diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-5,8, 10,12-tetraen-3-one or 7-
chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-
benzodiazepine-2-one.

7. GENERIC NAME

8. Specifications of Generic name
• the common or approved name of the drug
• generic name referring to any drug marketed under its chemical name
without advertising.
• granted by the United State Adopted Names (USAN) Council
• commonly used to identify a drug during its useful clinical lifetime
• may or may not be included in the pharmacopoeia
• A generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same
clinical benefit as its brand-name version.

9. For example-
• A generic medicine is the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage,
safety, route of administration, effectiveness, strength, stability, and
quality, performance characteristics.
• For example- atorvastatin,
aspirin,
paracetamol,
captopril,
metoprolol etc.

12. Specifications of Trade name
• Brand name or proprietary name
• given by the pharmaceutical manufacturing industries to the
medicine
• Pharmaceutical companies probably like the use of their
tradename, as this gives them some free advertising
• The clinicians usually prescribe drugs by their trade names.
• The use of many trade names for the same drug can be a
cause for confusion.

13. For example
The tradename for diazepam
• Valium (from the Roche pharmaceutical company),
• Valpam (Arrow pharma),
• Antenex (Alpha pharm),
• Ducene (Sauter pharma).

14. labelling preferences for prescription pharmaceuticals