The term drug nomenclature refers to the various names that can identify a drug.
Drugs are known by three different names:
Chemical Name
Non-Proprietary Name
Proprietary Name
Given when a New Chemical Entity (NCE) is developed.
Complies with the rules established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Useful for chemists, detailing the precise arrangement of atoms and groups within the molecule.
Not generally used in clinical or marketing contexts.
A concise name assigned to a drug not subject to proprietary rights.
Commonly used in discussions and textbooks.
Two classes of non-proprietary names:
Approved Name
Official Name
Assigned by organizations like the United States Adopted Name Council (USAN) and British Approved Name (BAN) post-introduction.
Often referred to as Generic Name, though this can refer to a class of drugs (e.g., Sulphonamide, Penicillin).
The name approved by the National Pharmacopeia Commission, as included in the Pharmacopeia.
Must be identical to the approved name.
Assigned by the pharmaceutical company marketing the drug.
Each drug can have multiple proprietary names from different manufacturers.
Written with an initial capital letter and often accompanied by a superscript ®.
Clinicians typically refer to drugs by their proprietary names.
CHEMICAL NAME: N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide.
NON-PROPRIETARY NAME:
Approved Name (BAN): paracetamol
USAN: acetaminophen
Official Name: Acetaminophen
PROPRIETARY NAME: Panadol, Calpol, Tempra, Biogesic
Classification is crucial for reducing thousands of drugs to manageable groups.
No uniform classification system exists, as it varies based on context (chemist, pharmacologist, pharmacist, clinician).
Chemical Nature
Source
Target Organ/Site of Action
Mode of Action
Therapeutic Uses
Physiological System
Physical Effects
Inorganic Drugs:
Metals and their Salts: (e.g., Ferrous Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Magnesium Sulphate)
Non-Metals: (e.g., Sulphur)
Organic Drugs:
Alkaloids: (e.g., atropine, morphine, strychnine)
Glycosides: (e.g., digitoxin, digoxin)
Proteins: (e.g., insulin, oxytocin)
Esters, Amides, Alcohols, Glycerides.
Natural Source:
Plants:
Morphine: derived from opium poppy
Atropine: synthesized from Atropa belladonna
Digoxin: extracted from woolly foxglove leaves
Animals:
Insulin: originally from cows and pigs’ pancreas
Microorganisms:
Penicillin: derived from Penicillium mold
Minerals:
Sodium Chloride: pharmaceutical-grade salt
Synthetic Source:
Sulphonamide: man-made antibacterial drugs
Procaine: local anesthetic
Semi-Synthetic Source:
Amoxicillin: enhanced penicillin antibiotic
Ampicillin: broad-spectrum penicillin
Doxycycline: semi-synthetic tetracycline derived from Streptomyces
Bio-Synthetic Source:
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin: biopharmaceutical for anemia treatment
Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin: from genetically modified E. coli
CNS Drugs: Diazepam, Phenobarbitone
Respiratory Drugs: Bromhexaine
CVS Drugs: Digitoxin, Digoxin
GIT Drugs: Omeprazole, Kaoline, Sulphadimidine
Urinary System Drugs: Magnesium Sulphate, Lasix
Reproductive Drugs: Oxytocin, Estrogen
Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors: Penicillin
Bacterial Protein Synthesis Inhibitors: Tetracycline
Calcium Channel Blockers: Verapamil, Nifedipine
Antimicrobials/Antibacterials: Penicillin, Streptomycin, Quinolones, Macrolides
Antihypertensives: Amlodipine, Hydralazine, Enalapril
Antidiarrheals: Loperamide
Antiemetics: Domperidone, Meclizine, Metoclopramide
Sympathomimetics: Adrenaline, Noradrenaline
Parasympathomimetics: Carbachol, Pilocarpine, Neostigmine
Neuromuscular Blockers: Suxamethonium, Gallamine
Emollients: Soothing agents (e.g., Lanolin, Vaseline)
Caustics: Things that can destroy by chemical action (e.g., Silver Nitrate)
Demulcents: Relieve inflammation (e.g., Zinc Oxide, Tannic Acid)
Prescription: Requires an order from licensed health practitioners (e.g., physicians, pharmacists).
Non-Prescription: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs available without a prescription.
Broad knowledge of drugs (classification, actions, interactions, reactions) is expected for RTs.
Skills in drug administration help in various clinical scenarios.
Drug knowledge is key to enhancing patient care and maintaining professional competency.