One Medicine, Many Names

My nurse said, “Before the doctor comes in, I want to review your list of medications.” The names did not look familiar; clearly this was not my list. I felt anxious and confused, and I had not yet stepped on the dreaded scale. I blurted out, “I know I take five pills in the morning and three at night.” We are talking two different languages.

She gave me a few moments as I stared blankly at the page. It was a short list; what was taking so long? I suspected that she glanced at my date of birth and began to question my mental competence. Now I had to worry about my weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and my mind.

My heart started to race. I took a deep breath. Nicatocin Acid…sounds like nicotine. I don’t smoke, but English, my primary language helped. “Must be Niacin!” My guess was wild but accurate.

I remembered an opinion piece written by an oncology nurse. Dual-named medicines are mistakes waiting to happen. And names of many medications sound alike. A pharmacist I once worked with had an articulation error. Even the substitution of one sound creates the name of a totally different medicine. If this is challenging for professionals in the field, how do I stand a chance?

The language of medicines: their multiple names: generic and brand, manufacturers, classifications, effects, usage, indications, and dosage, and terms such as off-label use, and patent pending, protections, and expirations is mystifying. The language and the increased advancements in medicine and accompanying remedies are mystifying.

Adding to the confusion are the TV narratives provided by actors who bombard us with the names of new medicines. Attractive images are paired with symptoms of the malady and are followed by disclaimers, possible side effects, drug interactions, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. After a while, they all sound the same! I have kept my vow to not buy gimmicky items advertised on TV and am now extending that practice to the media blitz of medications.

There are 2,784 pages in the five-inch, five-pound 2013 Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) that sits on my husband’s desk collecting dust. The two hundred pages of inserts that are to be stored in the sleeve in the front of the manual have gone missing. As I dust off the PDR, I make the connection between the inaccessibility of the PDR and my 1960 red-bound World Book Encyclopedia with its volumes of annual supplements. They are equally useless. Thank goodness for technology!

Feeling clueless Some online sources may be more useful for consumers to discern generic and name brands or to match pills to colored photos. But the process is cumbersome, and in emergency or stressful situations, frankly dangerous. But what does one do when technology is down or wireless unavailable?

I asked my doctor for a copy of the updated list of medications, and proceeded to the pharmacy to renew my prescriptions. While I waited I stored the list including the brand and generic names into my phone, and backed them up to the cloud. I heard my name called by the pharmacist. She requested my date of birth as she scanned the barcode on the bags. I glanced at the people surrounding me at the register as I whispered the identifying information. I noticed the pages of fine print stapled to the bags filled with the bottles I was sure I would not be able to open. She asked obligatorily, “Do you have any questions? I thought, this is not the time or place for questions…or is it? I made my way out of the pharmacy. I cannot be the only one who is scared and clueless.

re launched, out of more than 3,200 compounds in development.