Can anyone help me find out where I can translate medical drug names from USA English into British English? A web site would be the most helpful. Thanx.
As far as I know, there should be very few differences between US and British generic drug names.
I assume what you are asking for is a method of finding an equivalent British trade name for an American product. The best way would be to ascetain the generic name of the active ingredient, then use the web to track down info on the equivalent British product, if indeed a different trade name was used.
There are a few sites that give a complete run-down on drug info - just use a search engine to find them. Portals also usually have a link to such a site.
Any advice on how to track down the USA
generic names, please?
You might try a copy of the physician’s desk reference. It might even be on-line. When I’m in the office (medical journals) tuesday, I’ll look it up. Please post a reminder in MPSIMS.
Martindales (available from any medical library) lists UK and US brand names for drugs. Not available on-line AFAIK.
I have a copy of Mosby’s Drug Reference that lists US and Canadian brand names (where they differ, and they usually don’t.)
The best thing I can tell you is to ask a pharmacist (or a chemist, as I guess you call them in Britain) to see what they use, or ask them directly. They would definitely know this, as they have to deal with distributors and drug companies.
Robin
The bmj is searchable for free, but you have to register. Here is a page that should help:
Naming of drugs: pass the epinephrine, please
BMJ 1996;312:1315-1316 (25 May)
There follows a list of the most significant examples.
Also, ChemFinder can give you lots and lots of names for anything. You have to register after looking up five things.
PDR is available online, but they want money.
Paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen) and frusemide (Lasix, furosemide) are two drugs with different names, but they are usually similar. Adrenaline/epinephrine, etc. as well.
Need something specific for your haemorrhoids? Just want to treat simple paediatric oedema? I’d try Martindale’s.
One of my jobs is proofreading legal transcripts, many of which contain medical testimony, so I need to look up drug names all the time. The most useful site I’ve found is http://www.rxlist.com.
You can look up drugs by either generic or brand name; the results will show both, with links to prescription information and so on. The default is a “fuzzy search,” which is handy if you aren’t sure of the exact spelling of the drug name – it will look for every close match to the spelling you enter. The site is free to use and requires no registration.
The site is mostly about American drugs, though. I tried looking up both Paracetamol and frusemide, and it did find Paracetamol, but when I typed in frusemide, it only returned the American name, furosemide, and that only because the spelling was close.
Good luck!
The references supplied above are good ways to cross reference common names for the same chemical compounds especially those compounds that have been on the market for some time. You might also consider asking a physician or pharmacist (they often know the most common equivalents off the tops of their heads).
If those methods fail, contact a pharamceutical company that makes the drug. Typically, for newer perscription drugs, the compounds will be under patent, and thus only available from a single supplier whether under “generic” or brand names. Similarly, infrequently prescribed drugs are often available only from a single supplier. The pharmaceutical company should be able to tell you 1) If the drug is available in the UK (keep in mind that not all drugs are available in all countries) 2) What name(s) it is sold under in the UK and 3) whether the compound subject to any regulations (perscription only, controlled substance, regulated narcotics etc.) in the UK.
Nearly all international pharmaceutical companies have consumer oriented websites that will supply you with phone numbers or e-mail contacts, for consumer support or questions.
Hope that helps
-Pandora