The brand name given to a drug is known as what?

• A. Generic name
• B. Trade name
• C. Chemical name
• D. Proprietary name

Answer: (B)

Brand names are the names given by drug manufacturers for marketing—the trade name you’ll see on labels like Tylenol for acetaminophen. These names are chosen by each company and can vary by country, so one drug can have multiple brand names while the active ingredient remains the same. The generic name is the official nonproprietary name used universally (the standard name for the drug), not tied to a specific company. The chemical name describes the exact chemical structure and is rarely used in clinical practice. Proprietary name is another term sometimes used for a brand name, but the commonly accepted label for the marketed name is trade name, which is why this option is correct.