Why medicines have tongue-twister names

The tongue-twisting generic names assigned to drugs are products of ‘stems’ that describe everything from a drugs’ function to its shape, a new study has revealed.

The tongue-twisting generic names assigned to drugs are products of ‘stems’ that describe everything from a drugs’ function to its shape, a new study has revealed.

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Until 1961 there was no standard for assigning drugs generic names, which are different from brand names like Tamiflu (oseltamivir), Nexium (esomeprazole) and Herceptin (trastuzumab).

That is when the US Adopted Names (USAN) Council was created to assign simplified alternatives to the names of drugs. For instance, the “-prazole” ending of Nexium’s generic name, esomeprazole, reveals that it is a type of antiulcer medication. Similar drugs will have the same stems in their names, allowing those familiar with the stems to crack the code.