Chemical compounds, salts, and acids
In Latin nomenclature, the names of chemical compounds are formed according to strict grammatical rules. Acid names always consist of the noun acidum (acid) and an agreeing adjective. The nomenclature includes acids such as benzoic (acidum benzoicum), dioxybenzoic (acidum dioxybenzoicum), and hydrochloric (acidum hydrochloricum). Iopanoic acid is mentioned separately (acidum iopanoicum).
Salt names typically consist of two components. The cation (name of the element or base) comes first in the genitive case, while the anion (acid residue) comes second in the nominative case. Examples of salts:
- Sodium thiosulfate — Natrii thiosulfas
- Calcium glycerophosphate — Calcii glycerophosphas
- Ethyl chloride — Aethylii chloridum
- Aluminum hydroxide — Aluminii hydroxydum
- Phenyl salicylate — Phenylii salicylas
Oxides and peroxides follow the same scheme, for example: hydrogen peroxide — Hydrogenii peroxydum. For combined sodium derivatives, the word "sodium" is attached with a hyphen: Thiopentalum-natrium, Sulfapyridazinum-natrium, Coffeinum-natrii.
Names of synthetic drugs and antibiotics
Most synthetic and natural drugs in Latin have the ending -um, indicating neuter gender. When analyzing such names, it is important to identify common stems that may indicate chemical composition or pharmacological action. Among the vast list of drugs, the following stand out:
- Agents affecting the nervous system: Diazepamum, Phenobarbitalum, Phenazepamum, Thiproperazinum, Benzonalum, Dipheninum.
- Hormonal drugs and their analogs: Hydrocortisonum, Desoxycorticosteronum, Methyloestradiolum, Dimoestrolum, Octoestrolum.
- Cardiovascular agents: Corinfar, Cordipin, Euphyllinum, Theophyllinum.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics: Phenylbutazonum, Rheopyrin, Phenacetinum.
Antibiotics constitute a special group. Their characteristic suffixes make it easy to determine their chemical structure and class:
- Penicillin group: Ampicillinum, Oxacillinum, Benzylpenicillinum.
- Tetracycline group: Morphocyclinum, Oxytetracyclinum.
- Macrolides and other antibacterial drugs: Erythromycinum, Streptomycinum, Oleandomycinum, Monomycinum, Rifamycinum.
The nomenclature also includes combined forms and brand names, such as the aerosol Oxycort or the ointment Phthorocort.
Solid dosage forms and their translation
When translating finished dosage form names into Latin, a key rule applies: the active substance is always placed in the genitive case (Genitivus), acting as an uncoordinated modifier.
- Tablets (Tabulettae). Example of a simple translation: dichlothiazide tablets — Tabulettae Dichlothiazidi. If the tablets have a protective coating, the agreeing participle obductae (coated) is added at the end, modifying the word Tabulettae. Examples: Tabulettae Aminazini obductae, Tabulettae Phthoracizini obductae. If the active substance is complex, both of its components are declined: Tabulettae Oleandomycini phosphatis obductae (oleandomycin phosphate tablets).
- Coated tablets (Dragee) (Dragee). This word is indeclinable. The translation is formed similarly: ascorbic acid coated tablets — Dragee acidi ascorbinici, diazolin coated tablets — Dragee Diazolini.
- Granules (Granula). Example: sodium para-aminosalicylate granules — Granula Natrii para-aminosalicylatis.
Liquid, soft forms, and herbal remedies
Liquid forms include solutions (Solutio). The word Solutio is feminine. If it is necessary to indicate the nature of the solvent, the adjective agrees in the feminine gender and is placed at the very end of the term:
- Camphor oil solution — Solutio Camphorae oleosa (a prepositional variant — in oleo — is also acceptable).
- Gramicidin alcohol solution — Solutio Gramicidini spirituosa.
- Desoxycorticosterone acetate oil solution — Solutio Desoxycorticosteroni acetatis oleosa.
Soft dosage forms are represented by ointments (Unguentum) and liniments (Linimentum). Examples: aceclidine ointment — Unguentum Aceclidini, yellow mercuric oxide ointment — Unguentum Hydrargyri oxydi flavi, compound chloroform liniment — Linimentum chloroformii compositum.
In the nomenclature of herbal preparations, the form is indicated first, followed by the plant part or its name in the genitive case. Medicinal plant names are capitalized:
- Tinctures: Tinctura Eucalypti (eucalyptus), Tinctura Convallariae (lily of the valley), Tinctura Crataegi (hawthorn), Tinctura Hyperici (St. John's wort), Tinctura Belladonnae (belladonna).
- Extracts: nettle fluid extract — Extractum Urticae fluidum, valerian dry extract — extracti Valerianae sicci (as part of tablets).
- Other forms: chamomile flower infusion — Infusum florum Chamomillae, cardiac tea collection — Species cardiacae. Specific plant parts are also indicated, for example, valerian rhizome with roots — Rhizoma cum radicibus Valerianae, or foxglove leaf — Folium Digitalis.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
Which stems indicate that a drug belongs to local anesthetics and analgesics?
The following stems indicate that a drug belongs to local anesthetics and analgesics:
- -cainum (-caine) — local anesthetic substances (local anesthetics);
- -adolum, -adol-, -idol- (-adol, -adol-, -idol-) — analgesics (indicates analgesic action);
- -dol- (-dol-) — pain reliever, pain-relieving;
- -alg- (-alg-) — pain reliever, pain-relieving.
Which stem is identified in the names of female sex hormone (estrogen) drugs?
The stem -(o)estr- (-estr-) is identified in the names of female sex hormone (estrogen) drugs. This element indicates that the medicinal product belongs to estrogenic drugs. Examples of drugs containing this stem include Octoestrolum (octestrol) and Ethinylestradiolum (ethinylestradiol).
What standard prescription abbreviations are used for tablets, coated tablets, and ointments?
The following standard prescription abbreviations are used for tablets and ointments:
- tab. (tabuletta) — tablet;
- ung. (unguentum) — ointment.
There is no information in the materials about a standard prescription abbreviation for the "coated tablet" (dragee) dosage form, but prescriptions use the full spelling (e.g., Dragee Diazolini). Abbreviations are formed from initial letters or syllables while preserving consonants.
To correctly translate a drug name, use the "Form -> Of what? -> What kind?" rule. First write the form (Solutio), then the substance in the genitive case (Camphorae), and agree the characteristic of the form with the first word (oleosa).
Class and exam questions
How is "ether for anesthesia" translated?
In Latin, this sounds like Aether pro narcosi, where the preposition pro is used.
How to properly indicate that tablets are coated?
The participle obductae is used, which agrees with the plural form Tabulettae. For example: Tabulettae acidi lipoici obductae.
In which case is the active substance name placed after the word "ointment" or "solution"?
The active substance is always placed in the genitive case (Genitivus), for example: Unguentum Glycerini (glycerin ointment).
How are the names of soluble salts constructed?
The neuter adjective solubile is added to the salt name in the nominative case, for example: Norsulfazolum solubile.
What else to study on this topic
- Meanings of common stems in the names of synthetic drugs
- Rules for forming the names of esters and acid salts
- Declension of plant material names (rhizomes, leaves, flowers)
- Agreement of adjectives denoting extract consistency (siccus, fluidus)
- Specific use of prepositions in pharmaceutical terms (cum, in, pro)
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