Paracetamol or Acetaminophen: Why we have two different names across the Atlantic?

We have two different names Paracetamol and Acetaminophen for the same drug because American and British have chosen different letters from the same chemical formula which is
(para-acetylamino phenol)

[@Sabrinasound]

Thanks for the info! I’ve always wondered why!😊

[@robertderice87]

Thank you so much for the information

[@daashazireael6613]

I never knew that the generic names were literally picked at random from the chemical name. Like that's so insane to me. Why wouldn't they just shorten it? Instead of taking letters out and choosing random ones to put together?

[@PharmacologyAnimation]

This a sensible question. I agree with you

[@victoryeh8081]

It is not random. International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has standardized -am for the amide group, and -ol for phenol or alcohol. Therefore "paracetamol" is the name trying to follow the IUPAC nomenclature (although not 100% following). That is the reason why WHO uses this name. By the way, the strict IUPAC name would be N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide.

[@AubreyÆsohn]

Fascinating

[@minabish1783]

Thank you❤️

[@ridhijain2446]

Kindly provide reference for the same

[@lylechipperson3407]

I think the US and Canada's system makes more sense, and you can see why if you look into the deaths caused by the other system and people not understanding made up names. Choosing random letters from a chemical name is okay I guess, but using actual strings of letters relating to the compounds that make up the drug, like in this case the acetyl group and then including the rest of the name as much as possible, seems much more logical.

[@cavauro]

or thumpun

[@AubreyÆsohn]

I dunno. I think educating people on medication usage, benefits,side effects, and dangers in general is probably just as important as having a proper name. A rose is a rose, after all.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Because climate change is not sure if cause a tsunami from the atlantic or pacific ocean as the coco cola bottle is a front from the front tyres of the pallet truck It can be different is the bottle is flipped from the back tyre 😂