Medications are given unique names to distinguish each one in order to avoid any mix-up. However, they can often be difficult to pronounce. Much as doctors, nurses and pharmacists deal with drugs on a daily basis, the pronunciation of some drugs, especially their generic names, often escape most – even the most ardent of pharmacists who can carry entire dictionaries of these in their heads. Let’s take a look at 17 of the toughest examples available out there, and their actual, correct pronunciations. 1. Talimogene Laherparepvec How to Pronounce: tal-IM-oh-jeen la-her-pa-REP-vek This drug is commonly markerted under the brand name Imlygic, and is the first-of-its-class approved. It is an oncolytic virus therapy for the treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes. It is administered by direct injection into the melanoma lesions, and when inside, would replicate inside the cancer cells, causing their death. 2. Botulinum toxins How to Pronounce: OnabotulinumtoxinA (oh-nuh-BOT-yoo-lin-num-TOKS-in-aye) AbobotulinumtoxinA (aye-bo-BOT-yoo-lin-num-TOKS-in-aye) RimabotulinumtoxinB (rime-uh-BOT-yoo-lin-num-TOKS-in-bee) IncobotulinumtoxinA (in-kuh-BOT-yoo-lin-num-TOKS-in-aye) Commonly known by the cosmetic trade name Botox, there are four different types of botulinum toxins, namely OnabotulinumtoxinA, AbobotulinumtoxinA, RimabotulinumtoxinB, and IncobotulinumtoxinA. Apart from their most well-known use in aesthetic medicine, they are also used to treat various conditions such as upper motor neuron syndrome, focal hyperhidrosis, and chronic migraines. 3. Idarucizumab How to Pronounce: eye-da-roo-SIZ-uh-mab Idarucizumab, traded under brand name Praxbind, is prescribed for patients using the anticoagulant dabigatran, where it acts as an antidote to reverse blood-thinning effects. 4. Levetiracetam How to Pronounce: lee-va-tye-RA-se-tam Levetiracetam is an anticonvulsant, used to treat myoclonic, partial, and tonic-clonic seizures. 5. Sodium Glucose CoTransporter 2 Inhibitors How to Pronounce: Dapagliflozin (dap-a-gli-FLOE-zin) Empagliflozin (em-pa-gli-FLOE-zin) Canagliflozin (kan-a-gli-FLOE-zin) Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2) are used for the treatment of type two diabetes. They inhibit the SGLT2 proteins to enhance urinary glucose excretion, thus lowering glucose levels in the blood. 6. Isavuconazonium Sulfate How to Pronounce: Eye-sa-vue-koe-na-ZOE-nee-um sul-FATE Marketed under the brand name Cresemba, this is a new medicine to treat adults suffering from fungal infection of the invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis type. The medicine works by targeting the cell membrane of the fungus, and is administered orally and intravenously. 7. Antimalarial medication How to Pronounce: Artemether/lumefantrine (ar-TEM-e ther/ loo-me-FAN-treen) Commonly marketed under the brand name Coartem (among others), this medicine treats acute, uncomplicated malaria infections caused by the plasmodium falciparum, and is the recommended first-line therapy. 8. Biologic monoclonal antibodies How to Pronounce: Ustekinumab (yoo-stek-in-YOO-mab) Adalimumab (a-da-LIM-yoo-mab) Ustekinumab and adalimumab, marketed as Stelara and Humira (among others) respectively, are biologic monoclonal antibodies administered via a subcutaneous injection. Adalimumab is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease amongst others. Ustekinumab is often prescribed to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis. 9. Antiretroviral medicine combination for Hepatitis C How to Pronounce: Ombitasvir (om-BIT-as-vir) Paritaprevir (par-i-TA-pre-vir) Ritonavir (ri-TOE-na-vir) Dasabuvir (da-SA-bue-vir) Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir + Dasabuvir is prescribed to treat the genotype one chronic hepatitis C virus infection. 10. Eszopiclone How to Pronounce: Es-zoe-PIK-lone Eszopiclone, marketed as Lunesta, is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic class medication prescribed for insomnia. 11. Ixabepilone How to Pronounce: ix-ab-EP-i-lone Ixabepilone, marketed as Ixempra, is an epothilone B analog presribed to treat locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. 12. Umeclidinium Bromide How to Pronounce: Ue-me-kli DIN-ee-um BRO-mide Umeclidinium bromide, sold as Incruse Ellipta, is a long-acting anticholinergic used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It can also be found co-formulated with vilanterol, a beta-2 agonist class medicine. 13. Phenazopyridine How to Pronounce: fen-az-oh-PEER-i-deen Phenazopyridine is prescribed to relieve pain. It is often prescribed to curb the pain, burning, or discomfort caused by infection/irritation of the urinary tract, but cannot treat urinary tract infections as it is not an antibiotic. 14. Ondansetron How to Pronounce: An-dan-si-tran-on Ondansetron, sold under the name Zofran, is an antiemetic drug used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy or surgery. This drug is sold in an oral tablet form, or parenterally in the form of its hydrated hydrochloride. 15. Azathioprine How to Pronounce: Ase-thi-o-prene Azathioprine is a purine antimetabolite used as an immunosuppressant. 16. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate How to Pronounce: me-drak-se-pro-jes-te-ron Ace-c-tate This drug is a synthetic progesterone used to treat amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding and is often used together with conjugated estrogens to relieve the symptoms of menopause and to prevent osteoporosis. It is administered orally, and by injection as a long-acting contraceptive. It is commonly sold under the brand names Provera and Depo-Provera, amongst many others. They can also be found combined together with conjugated estrogens, and sold under the trademarks Prempro and Premphase. 17. Methylprednisolone How to Pronounce: Me-tile-pred-nis-e-lon Methylprednisolone is used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is a glucocorticoid that is derived from prednisolone. What other hard-to-pronounce drug names do you know of? Share them here. Source
