Generic Drug Names and Brand Names: Which Are More Familiar to You?
For the regular guy, studying generic drugs or medicines is sometimes confusing. Drug names are confusing. Most drugs have two names, a generic name and a brand name. The generic name is usually long and hard to pronounce. The brand name is chosen by the drug’s manufacturer, primarily for marketing purposes.
For example, Viagra implies vigor. It’s much easier to remember the brand names of most drugs. Indeed, some of them become “household names.” These days that’s largely because the drugs are advertised in magazines and on TV. In fact, brand names are far more popular than generic drug names.
Hard as it may be, it’s a good idea to also become familiar with the generic name of the drugs you take. That way, you’ll be better prepared when the generic does become available. And you might find it easier to get information on the drug from reference books or the Internet.
