PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO BE RENAMED

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WASHINGTON DC - The national trade association of drug and pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America® today announced a sweeping change in the manner in which prescription drugs are marketed.  Starting January 1, 2015, the prescription pharmaceutical products will be renamed to make them more user-friendly.  At the suggestion of the Federal Food and Drug Administration and NASA, prescription drugs will be given common names, just like tropical storms and hurricanes.  For example, Pfizer’s Protonix, its street name for pantprazole sodium, will simply be renamed “Peter”, which is much easier to remember.  (In some border states such as Arizona and Texas, it will be also available under the name “Pedro”.

 Some drug names will not be changed, however, because their drug names are household words, like Xerox or Kotex.  For example, aspirin will still be called aspirin, and sildenafil citrate will continue to be marketed under the name Viagra.  However, less well-known drugs will receive new common names, randomly selected from baby names lists.  Some drugs have already been assigned new names, such as “Jordan” for isosorbide dinitrate, and “Billy” for isosorbide mononitrate.  The FDA will make the name assignments to avoid conflicts among the several manufacturers.

sildenafil citrate

“Think how much easier will be for patients,” said L. Horatio Gumm, the Consumer Advocate of PhRMA.  “When asking for a prescription for Viagra, for example, your physician will simply ask if you are currently taking Jordan or Billy, instead of the current chemical names which hardly anyone, including many drug chain pharmacists can remember.” 

A shortlist of pharmaceutical names has been released, and is shown below.

"Billy", formerly isosorbide mononitrate.

Old Name                           New Name fisosorbide mononitrate Billy  isosorbide dinitrate Jordan sildenafil citrate Viagra (unchanged) Tramadol Suzi medical marijuana Dr. Mary Jane pravastatin sodium Walter Diazepam Sasha pantprazole sodium Peter (Pedro in some markets)