Chemical names for medication/new oxygen tank & prescription

[Sara_2611]

1.Last week i was hosputalised for the 14th time over the dropping of my oxygen levels

If theres one thing everytime ive noticed is the doctors nurses always call the medication by their chemical names instead of the brand name.

For example one of my epilepsy tablets ive always called Keppra

But they always call it by its chemical name LEVITICAREM (dont know if ive spelt it right)

It took me ages to remember their chemical names

Why cant they use the brand name. At a guess (obviously cant say for sure) in patients may only know their medication by their brand names & no other nane & if thats their case I dont think its fair to expect them to learn their chemical names. I learnt them now from all the times ive been hospitalised.

This may be an obvious answer but would like to enquire anyway Do the nurses also know the brand name if the meds because if a patient is asked if they have taken whatever medication & the nurses use their chemical names the patient wont recognise their usual meds theyve been taking for years. My own personal view is that they should use the brand names so patients can recognise their meds straight away to make it easier for them. I personally feel the patients should have to learn or recognise them

I m not complaining here Im need to be clear about that. Im just making an observation based on my first ever stay in hospital

About my oxygen concentrator It was specially arranged for me to have a gas test done in my ear with a view to see how much oxygen was in my blood as discussions were to take place about raising my home oxygen

An agreement was reached that now my oxygen levels are now 8 litres (on my new concentrator) when im moving about & 4when at rest because 6&4was making me very tired

[Ergendl]

Hospitals tend to stock the cheaper generic versions of medicines to help control prescription costs, hence the doctors using the chemical names rather than the brand names.

It's a bit like saying 'vacuum cleaner' to describe the type, rather than 'Hoover' to name the brand. Any vacuum cleaner will do the job, but not all of them do the job to the same standard, and some perhaps a lot better.

[Alberta56]

I agree. Medicine's names are very confusing at the best of times. Most lungies have had to learn Ventolin=s Salbutamol=s Salamol, but it's a bit much to expect our poor tired brains to take on all the various names for all the other things we are on. I also have a grumble about the names bestowed on illnesses these days. I thought Bronchiectasis (5 syllables) was bad enough, but some of the ones other people are lumbered with don't bear thinking about. I hope your new oxygen regime will work and help to keep you out of hospital. Good luck. xxx

[horseygirl_0103 in reply to Alberta56]

Cheers I hope so too I dont think it ll matter what regime im on -it ll just keep doing it because thats a feature of it

Yes its too much to be expected to learn the proper names we re not learning science we ve all got lung issues & I personally feel the HPs should refer to them usuing their brand names not chemical ones

[Ern007 in reply to Alberta56]

For COPD it was Duovent - Then another Cobivent - Cant have that - Have to have Salamol -Ipratropium bromide and Glyceryl trinitrate for Angina, I have to cart that mouthful with me every time I go out.

[Alberta56 in reply to Ern007]

Blimey! Personally I carry a prescription in my handbag, which works very well, except when the doctor adds a new medicine to the list.

[Sara_2611 in reply to Alberta56]

Yes good idea. As far as I know my presctiption of medicationson them are named by their brand names which helps

[Mooka]

I thought it was a secret rule that all medicines, diseases and doctors names are unpronounceable just to confuse us! I have my meds written down in the health app on my phone as I’ve often not been very coherent when going to hospital and my husband certainly wouldn’t know them. I hope your new oxygen mix helps you.

[horseygirl_0103 in reply to Mooka]

time will tell

[Patk1]

The staff use the name of the drug - there can be many brand names ..eg take paracetamol( the drug),panadol + numerous others r brand names.its the name of the drug thats important and nurses,drs have so many patients on a variety of drugs - if u dont know yr own,how can they be expected to learn all the brand names

[horseygirl_0103 in reply to Patk1]

I know all my drugs to be fair - Whenever Im hospitalised Ive been given permission to self medicate as Ive had a routine going on for years & kept it that way & demonstrated that to any of the nurses who see me taking them when they do my obs they can see Ive got a clear routine going on & leave me alone to take them. They have a list of all my tablets & they all know that the ones they give me themselves are the ones outside of my routine prescription & they come round & give them when its appropriate

I know all the docs & nurses have so many patients on a variety of drugs to be fair

[Dorcas47]

My oxy machine only goes up to 5 am I missing something ??

[horseygirl_0103 in reply to Dorcas47]

what t is your prescription -Is it a concentrator yourre on ? Mine goes up to 10

My prescription is 8 litres when moving about & 4 when Im at rest

[Dorcas47 in reply to horseygirl_0103]

Thanks for your reply its a great relief to know there is life after 5 Thank goodness for this site it makes you feel your not struggling alone. Take care

[Caspiana]

Hi Sara. Levetiracetam is the generic form of Keppra or the cheaper version. Although that doesn't make it any less effective. If they were to go by the chemicals in Keppra they'd have to say "ammonium glycyrrhizinate, citric acid monohydrate, glycerin, maltitol solution, methylparaben, potassium acesulfame, propylparaben, purified water, sodium citrate dihydrate and natural and artificial flavor". Quite a mouthful😊. Best wishes.

[horseygirl_0103 in reply to Caspiana]

Hi

I know to be fair Ive been taking it for years I was just using it as an example

Just saying we shouldnt beexpected to remember the chemical name for our meds because the hospital will only refer to them in that way

[Germantara]

I definitely agree with you the hospital should use terms off medication that peaple know my mother was severe epperlectic unfortunately they couldn't get meds to control them my mother was house bound for over 30 yrs and couldn't even make cuppa do anything unattended she was often in hospital and hospital with there medication terms always upset her cause they treated her as stupid but she didn't know these long tongue twisting names so I understand

[Sara_2611 in reply to Germantara]

It got to a point that once or twice I wás nearly given medication by the hospital that in fact was part of my prescription all because they refuse point blank to make life easier for those patients who are capable of taking their own medicine. People like me have had to resort to writing down the chemical names on a piece of paper with the brand names next to them when the nurses come round giving out the medication so that they can recognise them because of their refusal to be flexible with the names