Medicine
Origin
Premarin
Refers to “pregnant mares’ urine”, the source from which the conjugated estrogens are taken. Premarin is used to treat postmenopausal women suffering from hot flashes.
Warfarin
Takes its name from the acronym WARF – Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and ‘-arin’, coming from the link between warfarin and coumarin.
Morphine
Takes its name from the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus.
Montelukast
Montelukast, a drug used to treat COPD, takes its name from Montreal, the site of its discovery.
Glucophage
The medicine whose active ingredient is metformin, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. The name Glucophage derives from the Greek to mean “glucose eater”.
Halcion
Triazolam is the active ingredient of Halcion; a drug used to treat severe insomnia. The name “Halcion” comes from the Greek concept of “calmness” – now most associated with calmness at sea.
Lasix
Refers to “last 6 hours”. Lasix is a medicine used to treat fluid build-up (its active ingredient is the drug, furosemide), with diuresis being complete within 6 hours.
Nystatin
An antifungal medicine whose name derives from New York State Department; the developers of the drug having worked in that department during its discovery.
Rapamune
Whose active ingredient is sirolimus. The drug itself was first isolated from samples taken from Rapa Nui, the native name of what is called Easter Island.
Valium
Takes its name from the Latin word, “vale” – referring to “farewell / goodnight”. The active ingredient of Valium, diazepam, is used to treat a wide variety of conditions such as anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms.
Emend
Referring to “ending emesis”, or vomiting. The active ingredient of Emend is aprepitant, an NK1 receptor antagonist.
Ursodiol
The active ingredient of which is ursodeoxycholic acid, a drug used to reduce gallstone formation. Ursodiol takes its name from “urso”, or “bear”, as bear bile is a source of the drug.
Actigall
Also contains the active ingredient ursodeoxycholic acid, though its name refers to “acting on the gallbladder”.
Prevacid
“Preventing acid formation”. That’s because the active ingredient of Prevacid is lansoprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor.
Ambien
Takes its name from the Spanish to mean “Good morning!” (AM – morning and ‘bien’ – good). The active ingredient of Ambien is zolpidem.
Fosamax
The active ingredient of which is alendronic acid. The name Fosamax comes from the Latin “os” to mean “bone” and “max”, to maximize its effect.
Macrobid
Takes its name from “Macro-“, referring to Macrodantin, and “-bid”, referring to the Latin for twice daily. The active ingredient of Macrodantin is the antibacterial drug, nitrofurantoin.
Xarelto
The active ingredient of which is the anticoagulant medicine, rivaroxaban. Xarelto takes its name from factor ‘Xa’, the factor that rivaroxaban inhibits to impart its anticoagulant properties.
Tylenol
Takes its name from the chemical structure of acetaminophen (paracetamol) – N-aceTYL-para-aminoPHENOL.
Lunesta
Takes its name from “Luna”, the Latin word for the Moon. The active ingredient of Lunesta is eszopiclone, a drug used to treat insomnia.
Flomax
A drug used in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy, a condition that causes limited urine output. The active ingredient of Flomax, tamsulosin, is an alpha-receptor blocker that promotes urine flow.
