Laughing With Di

Upadacitinib varenicline lurasidone HCI. Adalimumab, risankizumab-rzaa! Palbociclib, ticagrelor and apixaban tofacitinib. Erenumab-aooe? “Sacubitril/valsartan dulaglutide pimavanserin guselkumab.”
The above is neither a conversation in Dothraki (Game of Thrones) nor Klingon (Star Trek). Maybe, the EWOK language from Star Wars? A language from Lord of the Rings? Nope.
These words are the chemical names for prescribed drugs. They are unpronounceable! Any attempt to read or make sense of them makes one’s brain hurt. Even if you try syllable by syllable, you become lost in the translation. This piqued my interest so. . .
Drug companies propose generic names according to the product’s chemical makeup.1 Most drug names include a stem. A stem consists of syllables that denote the chemical structure or action at a receptor for that drug. (Huh?) There are over 600 stems and sub-stems that have been defined. Software is used to search names that would conflict with current uses.2
Sit through some prime time shows for a couple of days and you will see commercials for every drug imaginable. If you hit pause and look closely at the words that precede the name of a drug, you will see its chemical name. The goal here is to one day see the names of drug vaccines to cure dreaded viruses.
Think I have a little too much time on my hands? Are we getting a little bored staying at home? Then turn the TV off and play this game I saw on the Late Night At Home Show with Jimmy Fallon. Write down words on pieces of paper. Players pick a word and give clues to get Alexa to say it. Sample word: pickles. “Alexa, what does Vlasic make?” If she says “pickles”, you win.
This fun experience is probably easier on the eyes than watching drug commercials.
1 Google Search
2 AMA Journal of Ethics