June 19, 2007 - 10:12am
This may be in reference to an older post (if so I apologize in advance) but the "Perco" in Percocet doesn't mean immediate release. How or why DuPont - the original manufacturer - came up with "Perco" I don't know, but as we all know the "cet" is part of a"cet"aminophen/APAP/Tylenol. I'm guessing the "co" is part of oxy"co"done. As far as Percodan goes...not sure what the "dan" would be short for. I've only ever seen aspirin abbreviated as ASA.
Endocet is just Endo's generic version of Percocet, as Roxicet is Roxane's generic version. Why they chose to name their generics instead of just marketing them as Oxycodone/APAP, as the other generics do, is a mystery. Anyone know? (Maybe because Watsocet or Mallinckrocet just doesn't have that ring to it?)
The science of drug companies coming up with brand names of new drugs has always fascinated me. e.g., the new sleep meds with soothing names like Lunesta, Sonata...even Ambien, which I know is not new, is, you have to admit, a great name for a sleeping pill.
June 19, 2007 - 4:20pm
#2
Thanks for the explanation
Thanks for the explanation of ASA, 4andsic - always wondered how that related to aspirin. (And how'd they come up with APAP as the standard abbreviation for acetaminophen?) I'm still trying to figure out the meaning of "dan", and on a (somewhat) related note, have noticed on certain generic meds - Watson in particular - that they have an imprint of "DAN" or "DANDAN" when it has absolutely nothing to do with the ingredients of the med, the brand name, or the manufacturer name. I'm pretty sure Watson's version of Flexeril has a "DAN" imprint, but trying to extrapolate that from either Flexeril, cyclobenzaprine, or McNeil (brand manufacturer) leads to a dead end.
June 19, 2007 - 5:16pm
#3
uncle DAN?
I've often wondered about "DAN" myself....my guess?...it's somebody's uncle...
On the APAP...I just posted this on another thread for another reason, but since you asked:
APAP = Acetaminophen (and the APAP comes from the chemical name: n-Acetyl-P-Amino Phenol)
June 19, 2007 - 7:57pm
#4
Dan is Not an Uncle but Good Guess!
Once upon a time, there was a company called Danbury Pharmacal, Inc. based in Danbury, Connecticut.
Several years ago Watson bought the company, and it's now a fully-owned subsidiary of Watson. Hence the DAN imprint.
While we are discussing ancient history, it's sort of a similar situation with Rugby. Rugby was basically a small RX manufacturer and was bought by Watson years ago. All Rugby imprints disappeared, but now I see Rugby (not the imprints but the name) is back as Watson's private label over-the-counter meds.
At least to me, pharmaceutical history is kind of interesting. It's hard to keep track of most of them. And so many are gone (by way of bankruptcy court) in the last four years.
I'm not a pharmacist or a medical doctor. This message is not medical advice nor is it an offer to provide medical advice. All drug identifications should be validated by a licensed MD or pharmacist.
June 20, 2007 - 11:13am
#5
share the wealth
Kirby, I had a feeling you would have some knowledge on this subject.
Thanks for sharing - makes perfect sense.
quiescentlyhot,
I like your observations on the names. I've never really given it much thought, but your remarks are making me look at market names in a different light. I kinda like the name Watsocet.
Anyway, I don't have any major insights into naming things so they appeal to the buyer. Sometimes though names or abbriviations come from the chemical names.
And having said that, aspirin is also known as "ASA" because of the chemical name: AcetylSalicylic Acid.
4andsic