Names of drugs need a pep-up
By Jen Kelly, Health Reporter.
Anti-depressants should be given names like Cloud9 and BlissPill, and Viagra should have been called PeckUp, a leading psychiatrist says.
Professor Gordon Parker produced a light-hearted analysis for the Medical Journal of Australia which showed drug brand names were becoming too complex. Examples he gave were Prozac, Zyprexa, Clozaril, Zoloft, Efexor and Luvox.
Prof. Parker, head of the School of Psychiatry at the University of NSW, said new drug names resembled the loser's board in a game of Scrabble.
Drugs should have names that suggest their purpose, make us feel good and have a placebo effect, he said.
Prof. Parker suggested Glidedown for an anti-manic drug, Flatline for a mood stabiliser and Chillout for anti-psychotics.
Herald Sun, Monday, December 11, 2000.
