# Generic name of medication

**Category:** [Clinical (archive)](https://discourse.openehr.org/c/clinical-archive/153)
**Created:** 2009-10-21 13:43 UTC
**Views:** 1
**Replies:** 5
**URL:** https://discourse.openehr.org/t/generic-name-of-medication/14938

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## Post #1 by @system

Dear all,

In the Swedish archetype project, we need to record medication
information with the medication archetype from the openEHR knowledge
repository\. We have difficulties to decide on which archetype node to
use in the medication archetype
\("openEHR\-EHR\-ITEM\_TREE\.medication\.v1"\) for the name of the medication
and the ATC code\. There are at least two possibilities here, both
"Name of the medication" and "Generic name of the medication" seems to
be possible\. Should we use the "Name of medication" to keep the
medication name and use "Generic name" for ATC code or the other way
around?

Cheers,
Rong

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## Post #2 by @Stef_Verlinden1

Hi Rong,

Good question.
Here in the Netherlands I would argue that one chooses the generic name first since (at least GP's) doctors have to prescribe drugs by their generic name. The idea behind this is that if drugs are 'off patent', the often more expensive 'brand' drugs aren't prescribed automatically.

It might also be easier from a practical perspective that the generic name is prevailing: There is only one generic drug name per drug but their can be many brand/commercial names for the same drug, especially if it's off patent. Especially with 'older' drug most doctors know the generic name, but don't know all the brand/commercial names. See for instances how many brand drugs contain acetylsalicylic acid.

Cheers,

Stef

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## Post #3 by @Dr_Carola_Hullin_Luc

Dear Rong,
As a clinician, generic name is the manner we educate doctors and nurses in order to avoid the diversity of labelling of drugs producers and vendors.
The national approach is to use generic in the first isntance. That is the way we are using in our project

[http://www.health.vic.gov.au/healthsmart/](http://www.health.vic.gov.au/healthsmart/)

Cheers Carol

**Dr. Carola Hullin Lucay Cossio**
**Co Founder of eHealth Systems**
**Latinoamerica**
**+61 3 9434 6729**
**+61 425 858 105**
**Melbourne- Australia**

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## Post #4 by @system

Hi Rong

We are talking about this a great deal and I would suggest that we go ahead
with the review of this archetype together\.
There needs to be a single name of the drug as prescribed \- this may or may
not be generic\. If the name is a Tradename a requirement to include the
generic name in the order has been proposed in our national program\. That is
how it got to be like this\.

The ATC code should be a mapping in the data I believe rather than a field
as it is a code and will need the terminology reference\.

Is this helpful\.

Cheers, Sam

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## Post #5 by @system

Dear all,

I have summarised the thread so far as a discussion for the archetype on CKM.
To see it, just go to [http://openehr.org/knowledge/OKM.html#showArchetype_1013.1.156](http://openehr.org/knowledge/OKM.html#showArchetype_1013.1.156) and click on the Discussion icon (once logged in).

Anybody can subscribe to
- this discussion (click on the orange star icon on the right of the discussion)
- all discussions of this archetype (click on Adopt archetype and activate the settings you like)
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to receive email notifications about new posts.

Sebastian

Sam Heard wrote:


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## Post #6 by @system

Dear all,

Thanks for all the feedback! Let's continue our discussion in CKM (well done, Sebastian =)

Regards,
Rong

2009/10/22 Sebastian Garde <[sebastian.garde@oceaninformatics.com](mailto:sebastian.garde@oceaninformatics.com)>


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**Canonical:** https://discourse.openehr.org/t/generic-name-of-medication/14938
**Original content:** https://discourse.openehr.org/t/generic-name-of-medication/14938