Recommended International Non-proprietary Name (rINN) Of Drugs (Full List) With Former Name

rINN and Former List

One of the functions of World Health Organisation (W.H.O) is the regulation of International Non-proprietary Names (I.N.Ns) which was established in 1950.

Until date, about 7,000 names have been published. However, all of the pharmaceutical products available today are in their trade names, which are used for prescribing, dispensing, promotion or buying. The manufacturer of those product selects the names they want to use. 

It should be known that two different manufacturers could produce one product and give it different trade names that they like. However, both products will have the same generic name (Non-Proprietary Name) maybe with different strength.

National and international commissions design generic names. The naming has made it easy for medical practitioners to know the function, pharmacology and therapeutic effects of any drug once the INN is known.

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The name is developed following the guidelines of international bodies including the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (I.U.P.A.C) nomenclature. This was applied when it was observed that most of the names were quite long and difficult to pronounce. This led to the adoption of a new set of names to eliminate those observed problems known as rINN (Recommended International Non-proprietary Name). Take acetaminophen as an example that has a second name as paracetamol. There is need to accept one to avoid future misrepresentation.

It should be noted that these naming affected mostly old drugs with old names as new products are given a standard name from the start.

To get a new product registered in the rINN, a request for a rINN is submitted either to the National Nomenclature Commission (N.N.C) of individual country or to WHO. The details of the new product are detailed out in an application like the pharmacological action and the name of the manufacturer. The proposed name of the manufacturer is examined and if approved selected. All regulatory bodies involved must agree at one name before it becomes official. The manufacturer can send two names.

There may be ground for disapproval from anybody who lays complain to the organisation objecting to the proposed name. Such objections are only be attended to within four months after the name was proposed, if not it will not be entertained.

Approval Of New Product Name

To be approved, an rINN must:

1. be distinctive in sound and spelling
2. not too long
3. not liable to confusion with other names known

All approved new drugs are published in the journal of WHO. Drug Management and Policy unit of WHO is saddled with the responsibility of publishing new drug information.

rINN are intended to be used in:

1. pharmacopoeia
2. labelling
3. advert
4. scientific literature
5. product names especially for generic compounds

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Nigeria And rINN

The use of rINN in Nigeria is similar to other countries like Britain and Australia which is a requirement for exporting products out of the country. This may not count for local products within the country.

Since the adoption of rINN in Nigeria, the following drugs have been affected. The list here indicated the old names with the new adopted rINN. New drugs do not have old names hence are not included here.

Former Name (Old Name)	rINN
Adrenaline	Epinephrine
Amethocaine	Tetracaine
Amoxicilin	Amoxicillin
Amphetamin	Amphetamine
Amylobarbitone	Amobarbital
Amylobarbitone sodium	Amobarbital sodium
Beclomethasone	Beclometasone
Bendrofluazide	Bendroflumethizide
Benzhexol	Trihexyphenidyl
Benztropine	Benzatropine
Busulphan	Busulfan
Butobarbitone	Butobarbital
Cephalexin	Cefalexin
Cephradine	Cefradine
Chlorbutol	Chorobutanol
Chlormethiazole	Clomethiazole
Chlorpheniramine	Chlorphenamine
Chlorthalidone	Chlortalidone
Cholecalciferol	Colecalciferol
Cholestyramine	Colestyramine
Clomiphene	Clomifene
Corticotrophin	Corticotropin
Cyclosporine	Ciclosporin
Dimethicone (s)	Dimeticone
Dimethyl sulphoxide	Dimethyl sulfoxide
Doxycycline HCL (hemihydrate hemiethanolate)	Doxycycline Hyclate
Ethinyloestradiol	Ethinylestradiol
Flumethasone	Flumetasone
Flupenthixol	Flupentixol
Frusemide	Furosemide
Guaiphensin	Guaifenesin
Indomethacin	Indomethacin
Lignocaine	Lidocaine
Methylene blue	Methylthioninium chloride
Nicoumalone	Acenocoumarol
Noradrenaline	Epinephrine
Oestradiol	Estradiol
Oestriol	Estriol
Oestrone	Estrone
Phenobarbitone	Phenobarbital
Pramoxine	Pramocaine
Procaine penicillin	Procaine benzylpenicillin
Riboflavine	Riboflavin
Salcatonin	Calcitonin (salmon)
Sodium calciumedetate	Sodium calcium edetate
Stilboestrol	Diethylstilbestrol
Sodium cromoglycate	Sodium cromoglicate
Sulphacetamide	Sulfacetamide
Sulphadiazine	Sulfadiazine
Sulphamethoxazole	Sulfamethoxazole
Sulphapyridine	Sulfapyridine
Sulphasalazine	Sulfasalazine
Sulphathiazole	Sulfathiazole
Thiabendazole	Tiabendazole
Sulphinpyrazone	Sulfinpyrazone
Thiopentone	Thiopental
Thyroxine sodium	Levothyroxine sodium
Urofollitrophin	Urofollitropin

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