Subject of study and nomenclature
Pharmacy as a multidisciplinary field combines knowledge on the search, development, industrial production, and practical application of agents intended for human treatment. A key role in this field is played by drug nomenclature.
Nomenclature represents a colossal volume of names of those substances and drugs that have passed official registration and are authorized by regulatory authorities for medical use. The scale of this system is impressive: tens and hundreds of thousands of different names are used worldwide today. Taking into account various combinations, the total number of products exceeds two hundred thousand, and this assortment is constantly expanding through the synthesis and discovery of new molecules.
Basic concepts of general prescription writing
To understand the principles of forming pharmaceutical names, one must clearly distinguish between basic (general) terms. In everyday speech, they are often confused, but in medical terminology, each word has strict boundaries.
- Medicinal product (medicamentum) is a broad concept. It refers to any substance or mixture of substances officially authorized in a specific country for the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of diseases.
- Active pharmaceutical ingredient (substantia pharmaceutica) is a narrower term. This is always an individual, specific chemical compound or isolated biological substance possessing pharmacological activity (for example, pure metamizole sodium).
- Medicinal plant raw material consists of plant parts (leaves, flowers, roots) officially approved for use in medical practice.
- Active ingredient is the specific component or group of components within a product that is directly responsible for the therapeutic, diagnostic, or prophylactic effect.
From form to finished product
The active substance itself is rarely used in its pure form. For the patient to use it, the substance must be given a convenient physical form.
Dosage form is precisely the convenient state imparted to plant raw materials or chemical agents. The main task of the dosage form is to ensure maximum therapeutic effect with minimal inconvenience. Examples of forms: tablets, solutions, ointments, suppositories, ocular films.
When we combine the active principle with the dosage form, we obtain a medicinal product / drug (praeparatum pharmaceuticum). This is a ready-to-use, strictly dosed product in a specific release form.
Drug structure formula: Medicinal product = Medicinal substance (or raw material) + Dosage form
Classification by composition
Depending on what forms the basis of the drug, they can be divided into several groups.
- Based on a single substance (monocomponent). Contain one active substance. For example, atropine sulfate or metamizole sodium. The same substance can be available in different forms: metamizole sodium comes in both tablets and solution.
- Combined medicinal products. These are drugs whose single dosage form contains two or more active substances in strictly fixed dosages. An example is tablets containing a mixture of theophylline (0.25 g) and bendazole (0.02 g), or the multi-component drug "Theofedrin".
- Based on herbal raw materials. Plant parts act as the active principle. For example, infusions are prepared from stinging nettle leaves, yarrow leaves, or arnica flowers. Tinctures and dry extracts are made from belladonna.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
What international nonproprietary names (INN) exist for medicinal substances?
In the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) system, there are names of active pharmaceutical substances whose group affiliation is reflected through the use of common stems. Such names and their elements include:
- Troxerutin (Troxerutinum) is an example of an INN used instead of a trade name.
- -caine (-cainum) is a common stem designating local anesthetics (pain relievers).
- -cillin (-cillinum) is a common stem designating penicillin-group antibiotics.
INNs are used instead of national pharmacopoeial names for the rational selection of medicines and effective prescription of therapy.
What are the basic rules of Latin prescription terminology for dosage form names?
The main rule of Latin prescription terminology is that each medicine receives a Latin name used by the physician when writing a prescription. The following rules apply to the names of combined drugs that accompany the designation of the dosage form:
- The name is a noun in the nominative case (Nom.).
- The name is enclosed in quotation marks.
- The name acts as a non-concordant apposition to the dosage form.
Examples of this formatting are Tabulettae "Urosalum" tablets and Unguentum "Calendula" ointment.
To avoid confusing terms, remember the chain from simple to complex: Substance (pure chemistry) → Medicinal product (approved for treatment) → Dosage form (convenient appearance) → Drug (ready product in the pharmacy).
Class and exam questions
What is the difference between a medicinal substance and a medicinal product?
A medicinal substance is a general term for a substance approved for use. A medicinal product is a finished product: a dosed substance produced in a specific dosage form (for example, a tablet or an ampoule).
What is an active ingredient?
This is a specific component within a medicine that provides the expected medical effect (therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic).
Can the same drug be available in different forms?
Yes, the same active substance (substance) can serve as the basis for different forms. For example, metamizole sodium is available both as tablets and as a solution.
What else to study on this topic
- Nomenclature features: international nonproprietary and trade names
- Types of dosage forms: solid, liquid, soft
- Rules for forming Latin names of chemical compounds
- Specifics of combined drug names
- Principles of naming drugs derived from medicinal plant raw materials
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