Why has the BNFC changed the names of some drugs? Why does the BNFC use adrenaline and not epinephrine?
European law requires the use of the Recommended International Non-proprietary Name (rINN) for medicinal substances. In most cases the familiar British Approved Name (BAN) and the rINN are identical. Where they were different the BANs have been amended to conform to the rINNs. The only exception to this is adrenaline and noradrenaline. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are the terms used in the titles of monographs in the European Pharmacopoeia and are thus the official names in the member states. For these substances the British Pharmacopoeia shows the European Pharmacopoeia names and the rINNs (epinephrine and norepinephrine respectively) at the head of the monographs; the BNFC uses a similar style. The list of commonly used substances whose names have been affected by the name change is available on BNF.org.
