# Ambien... I get it! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 24, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249 "2008-11-24T15:04:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/21 "2008-11-24T21:01:26Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > It would be nore apropos if it was a cream for hemorrhoids. Especially since the name **Anusol** is already taken. (My dad always deliberately pronounced it Anus Oil, so I was always aware of the reason for that name!) ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/22 "2008-11-24T21:17:33Z")
Never thought about where Ambien came from. But: bones are considered fossils, right? Hence the name Fosamax, a drug for treating osteroporosis. “Max out your bone strength, with Fosamax!” ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/23 "2008-11-24T22:35:36Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I never put those together either, but like Khadaji, I didn’t try either. I just got the Kay Jeweler’s “Every kiss begins with Kay” campaign about a year ago. Whoooooooshed right over my head it did. (Kiss begins with K.) I didn’t have a clue about Ambien, either, and I do take it every so often. A family friend has a classic line about the possible addictive effects: “I certainly look forward to being addicted to 8 hours of sleep a night” 🙂 As for “K”, I think I just finally got it within the last year or so, too. Wow, that lightbulb smashed all over my head when it finally hit! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/24 "2008-11-24T22:44:04Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > Especially since the name **Anusol** is already taken. > (My dad always deliberately pronounced it Anus Oil, so I was always aware of the reason for that name!) That’s making me giggle way too much. Sort of like our nephew who mis-pronounced ice cream as arse cream - it will forever be arse cream now in our house. 🙂 (Yeah, add me to the back of the clueless line.) ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/25 "2008-11-24T23:11:57Z")
Huh. I always figured it was a take off on “ambient” which refers to peaceful, surrounding, encompassing - sort of like a good night’s sleep should be. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/26 "2008-11-24T23:30:36Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I’ve always wondered if there is a job position for someone specifically to make up names for new drugs, and nothing else. I was Director of Marketing for a large Pharmaceutical company for about 10 years and you wouldn’t believe how much time and market research goes into naming drugs. Starts off with brainstorming in a conference room and snowballs from there eventually ending with consumer round table discussions where the final 3 names get narrowed to one. And they \*\*have \*\*to be creative when naming drugs since 90% of what the group originally comes up with is already trademarked. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/27 "2008-11-25T01:48:52Z")
I thought like **Fetchund**. Ah well. It does make sense the other way… ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/28 "2008-11-25T04:04:24Z")
I never thought about it. You’re not alone. I guess I accept that drugs will tend to have wacky names and ad campaigns. (That purple two eyed rhino monster that was pushing something or other, anyone?) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/29 "2008-11-25T13:47:32Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > That’s making me giggle way too much. Sort of like our nephew who mis-pronounced ice cream as arse cream - it will forever be arse cream now in our house. 🙂 > > (Yeah, add me to the back of the clueless line.) Terrific. Now, it is in my mind as arse cream. TYVM. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/30 "2008-11-25T15:04:21Z")
I never got this either. ---
**Author:** ![PotLuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@PotLuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PotLuck)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249/31 "2008-11-25T15:18:29Z")
> [@Fetchund](#): > > Huh. I always figured it was a take off on “ambient” which refers to peaceful, surrounding, encompassing - sort of like a good night’s sleep should be. Ditto, and I (used to) speak French! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambien-i-get-it/474249.md?page=1)