english.prescrire.org > Spotlight > Archives : 2005 > International nonproprietary name: the campaign goes on

Spotlight: Archives

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

2005 : 1 | 30 | 60

International nonproprietary name:
the campaign goes on

The INN, or international nonproprietary name, is a drug’s real name. Including it on medicine packaging can only help improve the use of drugs.

Since October, Prescrire and other partners in the Medicines in Europe Forum have been campaigning to promote the use of the INN in communicating with the public. A dossier on the INN campaign can be freely consulted at www.prescrire.org. Practical information sheets can be downloaded for distribution and posting on notice boards.

The fourth information sheet explains the many advantages of the INN, focusing on the importance of including the INN on medicine packaging as a simple, practical and reliable means for both patients and those caring for them to be certain of understanding which drug is being taken.

The INN is simpler, clearer and more precise.

©Prescrire December 2005

Source: "DCI, le vrai nom du médicament : Fiche n°4" Rev Prescrire 2005 ; 25 (267) : 865.

- More articles in Prescrire's "Spotlight"...