One medicine, different official names by country

Paracetamol and acetaminophen are the same medicine. Paracetamol is the name WHO gave it (the INN); acetaminophen is its official US name. The table below lists 128 such medicines, one row each, with the source for every name and the date it was checked.

The table

WHO INN	US name	UK name	Sources
acenocoumarol	—	acenocoumarol since 2003; before: nicoumalone former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
aciclovir	acyclovir USAN	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
alimemazine	trimeprazine FDA	alimemazine since 2003; before: trimeprazine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
amfetamine	amphetamine FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
amobarbital	—	amobarbital since 2003; before: amylobarbitone former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
amobarbital sodium	—	amobarbital sodium since 2003; before: amylobarbitone sodium former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
amoxicillin	—	amoxicillin since 2003; before: amoxycillin former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
articaine	—	articaine since 2003; before: carticaine former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
beclometasone	beclomethasone FDA	beclometasone since 2003; before: beclomethasone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
bendroflumethiazide	bendroflumethiazide USP	bendroflumethiazide since 2003; before: bendrofluazide former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
benorilate	—	benorilate since 2003; before: benorylate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
benzatropine	benztropine FDA	benzatropine since 2003; before: benztropine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
benzylpenicillin	penicillin g FDA	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
busulfan	busulfan USP	busulfan since 2003; before: busulphan former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
butobarbital	—	butobarbital since 2003; before: butobarbitone former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
calcitonin salmon	—	calcitonin salmon since 2003; before: salcatonin former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
cefalexin	—	cefalexin since 2003; before: cephalexin former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
cefalotin	cephalothin FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
cefamandole nafate	—	cefamandole nafate since 2003; before: cephamandole nafate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
cefapirin	cephapirin FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
cefazolin	cefazolin USP	cefazolin since 2003; before: cephazolin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
cefradine	—	cefradine since 2003; before: cephradine former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
chlormethine	mechlorethamine FDA	chlormethine since 2003; before: mustine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
chlorobutanol	—	chlorobutanol since 2003; before: chlorbutol former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
chlorphenamine	chlorpheniramine FDA	chlorphenamine since 2003; before: chlorpheniramine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
chlortalidone	chlorthalidone USAN	chlortalidone since 2003; before: chlorthalidone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
ciclosporin	cyclosporine USAN	ciclosporin since 2003; before: cyclosporin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
cinchocaine	dibucaine USP	—	FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
clomethiazole	—	clomethiazole since 2003; before: chlormethiazole former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
clomifene	clomiphene FDA	clomifene since 2003; before: clomiphene former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
cloral betaine	chloral betaine USAN	cloral betaine since 2003; before: chloral betaine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
colecalciferol	cholecalciferol USP	colecalciferol since 2003; before: cholecalciferol former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
colestyramine	cholestyramine resin USP	colestyramine since 2003; before: cholestyramine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
colistimethate sodium	colistimethate sodium USAN	colistimethate sodium since 2003; before: colistin sulphomethate sodium former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
corticotropin	—	corticotropin since 2003; before: corticotrophin former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
cromoglicic acid	cromolyn FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
dantron	—	dantron since 2003; before: danthron former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
desoximetasone	desoximetasone USAN	desoximetasone since 2003; before: desoxymethasone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
dexamfetamine	dextroamphetamine USAN	dexamfetamine since 2003; before: dexamphetamine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
dibrompropamidine	—	dibrompropamidine since 2003; before: dibromopropamidine former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
dicycloverine	dicyclomine FDA	dicycloverine since 2003; before: dicyclomine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
dienestrol	—	dienestrol since 2003; before: dienoestrol former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
diethylstilbestrol	diethylstilbestrol USP	diethylstilbestrol since 2003; before: stilboestrol former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
dimethyl sulfoxide	dimethyl sulfoxide USAN	dimethyl sulfoxide since 2003; before: dimethyl sulphoxide former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
dimeticone	dimethicone USAN	dimeticone since 2003; before: dimethicone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
dipotassium clorazepate	clorazepate dipotassium USAN	dipotassium clorazepate since 2003; before: potassium clorazepate former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
dosulepin	—	dosulepin since 2003; before: dothiepin former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
epinephrine	epinephrine USP	adrenaline BAN kept	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
estradiol	estradiol USP	estradiol since 2003; before: oestradiol former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
estriol	—	estriol since 2003; before: oestriol former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
estrone	estrone USP	estrone since 2003; before: oestrone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
etacrynic acid	ethacrynic acid USAN	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
etamsylate	ethamsylate USAN	etamsylate since 2003; before: ethamsylate former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
ethinylestradiol	ethinyl estradiol USP	ethinylestradiol since 2003; before: ethinyloestradiol former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
etynodiol	—	etynodiol since 2003; before: ethynodiol former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
fludroxycortide	flurandrenolide USAN	fludroxycortide since 2003; before: flurandrenolone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
flumetasone	flumethasone USAN	flumetasone since 2003; before: flumethasone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
flupentixol	—	flupentixol since 2003; before: flupenthixol former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
formoterol	—	formoterol since 2003; before: eformoterol former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
furosemide	furosemide USAN	furosemide since 2003; before: frusemide former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
gestonorone	—	gestonorone since 2003; before: gestronol former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
glibenclamide	glyburide USAN	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
glycopyrronium bromide	glycopyrrolate USAN	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
guaifenesin	guaifenesin USAN	guaifenesin since 2003; before: guaiphenesin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
hexachlorophene	hexachlorophene USP	hexachlorophene since 2003; before: hexachlorophane former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
hydroxycarbamide	hydroxyurea USAN	hydroxycarbamide since 2003; before: hydroxyurea former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
indometacin	indomethacin USAN	indometacin since 2003; before: indomethacin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
isoprenaline	isoproterenol FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
levomepromazine	levomepromazine USAN	levomepromazine since 2003; before: methotrimeprazine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
levosalbutamol	levalbuterol FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
levothyroxine sodium	—	levothyroxine sodium since 2003; before: thyroxine sodium former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
lidocaine	lidocaine USP	lidocaine since 2003; before: lignocaine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
lisuride	—	lisuride since 2003; before: lysuride former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
meclozine	meclizine FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
mecysteine	—	mecysteine since 2003; before: methyl cysteine former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
mercaptamine	cysteamine USAN	mercaptamine since 2003; before: cysteamine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
mesalazine	mesalamine USAN	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
metamfetamine	methamphetamine FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
methenamine hippurate	—	methenamine hippurate since 2003; before: hexamine hippurate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
methylergometrine	methylergonovine FDA	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
methylthioninium chloride	—	methylthioninium chloride since 2003; before: methylene blue former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
mitoxantrone	—	mitoxantrone since 2003; before: mitozantrone former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
moxisylyte	—	moxisylyte since 2003; before: thymoxamine former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
nitrofural	nitrofurazone USP	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
norepinephrine	—	noradrenaline BAN kept	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
norethisterone	norethindrone USP	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
orciprenaline	metaproterenol FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
oxetacaine	oxethazaine USAN	—	FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
paracetamol	acetaminophen USP	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
pentoxifylline	pentoxifylline USAN	pentoxifylline since 2003; before: oxpentifylline former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
pethidine	meperidine FDA	—	FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
phenobarbital	phenobarbital USP	phenobarbital since 2003; before: phenobarbitone former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
phenoxymethylpenicillin	penicillin v USAN	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
phytomenadione	phytonadione USP	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
pipotiazine	—	pipotiazine since 2003; before: pipothiazine former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
polihexanide	polihexanide USAN	polihexanide since 2003; before: polyhexanide former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
pramocaine	pramoxine FDA	pramocaine since 2003; before: pramoxine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
procaine benzylpenicillin	—	procaine benzylpenicillin since 2003; before: procaine penicillin former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
protionamide	—	protionamide since 2003; before: prothionamide former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
ribavirin	ribavirin USAN	ribavirin since 2003; before: tribavirin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
riboflavin	riboflavin USP	riboflavin since 2003; before: riboflavine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
rifampicin	rifampin USAN	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
rosoxacin	rosoxacin USAN	rosoxacin since 2003; before: acrosoxacin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
salbutamol	albuterol USAN	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
secobarbital	—	secobarbital since 2003; before: quinalbarbitone former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
sodium calcium edetate	—	sodium calcium edetate since 2003; before: sodium calciumedetate former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
sodium cromoglicate	—	sodium cromoglicate since 2003; before: sodium cromoglycate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
sodium feredetate	—	sodium feredetate since 2003; before: sodium ironedetate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
sodium picosulfate	—	sodium picosulfate since 2003; before: sodium picosulphate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
sodium stibocaptate	—	sodium stibocaptate since 2003; before: stibocaptate former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
sorbitan stearate	sorbitan monostearate USAN	sorbitan stearate since 2003; before: sorbitan monostearate former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
sulfacetamide	—	sulfacetamide since 2003; before: sulphacetamide former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
sulfadiazine	sulfadiazine USP	sulfadiazine since 2003; before: sulphadiazine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
sulfamethoxazole	sulfamethoxazole USAN	sulfamethoxazole since 2003; before: sulphamethoxazole former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
sulfapyridine	sulfapyridine USP	sulfapyridine since 2003; before: sulphapyridine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
sulfasalazine	sulfasalazine USAN	sulfasalazine since 2003; before: sulphasalazine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
sulfathiazole	sulfathiazole USP	sulfathiazole since 2003; before: sulphathiazole former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
sulfinpyrazone	—	sulfinpyrazone since 2003; before: sulphinpyrazone former BAN	UK list 2004 checked 2026-09-23
suxamethonium chloride	succinylcholine chloride USAN	—	FDA GSRS checked 2026-09-23
tetracaine	tetracaine USP	tetracaine since 2003; before: amethocaine former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
tetracosactide	cosyntropin USAN	tetracosactide since 2003; before: tetracosactrin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
thiamazole	methimazole USP	thiamazole since 2003; before: methimazole former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
thiopental	—	thiopental since 2003; before: thiopentone former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
tiabendazole	thiabendazole USAN	tiabendazole since 2003; before: thiabendazole former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
tioguanine	—	tioguanine since 2003; before: thioguanine former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
trihexyphenidyl	—	trihexyphenidyl since 2003; before: benzhexol former BAN	UK list 2004 · WHO EML 2025 checked 2026-09-23
urofollitropin	urofollitropin USAN	urofollitropin since 2003; before: urofollitrophin former BAN	UK list 2004 · FDA GSRS · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23
valaciclovir	valacyclovir FDA	—	FDA GSRS · WHO EML 2025 · Drugs@FDA checked 2026-09-23

Reading the table

WHO INN is the International Nonproprietary Name, the one generic name the World Health Organization gives a substance for use in every country. A recommended INN (rINN) is one WHO has finalised. Every name in the table opens the decoder with that name already typed.
US name carries a tag for where it comes from. USAN: the United States Adopted Name, tagged as such in FDA's substance register (albuterol, glyburide, rifampin). USP: the register has no USAN tag for the substance, and the name is the US Pharmacopeia title, as for acetaminophen. FDA: the US tags sit on a salt's record, so the table shows the name FDA's register uses for the substance itself, and only when FDA's Drugs@FDA also lists it as an active ingredient: meperidine, whose USAN is meperidine hydrochloride.
UK name. Where the UK's 2004 list shows a change, the column gives today's UK name (the rINN) and the former BAN (British Approved Name) it replaced from 1 December 2003: lignocaine became lidocaine, frusemide became furosemide. BAN kept marks the two exceptions, adrenaline and noradrenaline, which the UK kept alongside the INNs epinephrine and norepinephrine.
A dash means none of the sources here gives a name for that country. It does not mean the name is the same there: the UK column is filled only for names on the UK's list of changes, and the US column only where FDA's register ties a US name to the INN.
Sources link to each official record for the row, with the date it was checked. Hover or long-press a source for its full title and what it shows for that row.

Why one medicine has several official names

WHO has chosen international generic names since the 1950s, but several countries had already named many older substances, and some kept their own names. The US gives its names through the United States Adopted Names Council and the US Pharmacopeia; the UK had British Approved Names. Most of the differences are spelling. WHO's naming rules write f for ph, t for th and i for y, so the US acyclovir is the INN aciclovir, and the decoder already reads such spellings by rule.

Other pairs share no rule at all, and that is what this table is for: paracetamol and acetaminophen, salbutamol and albuterol, glibenclamide and glyburide, pethidine and meperidine, suxamethonium chloride and succinylcholine chloride, isoprenaline and isoproterenol. Both names in a pair are often cut from the same chemical name. FDA's record for acetaminophen also lists the chemical name N-acetyl-p-aminophenol and the abbreviation APAP: acet-amino-phen takes its letters from that name, and paracetamol from para-acetylaminophenol, the same chemical name written another way.

The UK changed its names in 2003. A letter from Scotland's Chief Medical Officer (SEHD/CMO(2004)3) sets out the change: the British Pharmacopoeia 2003 published the new names, since 1 December 2003 the rINN is the correct name wherever the two differed, and prescribers and dispensers were asked to use rINNs by 30 June 2004. Most changes were small, such as amoxycillin to amoxicillin; some were larger, such as bendrofluazide to bendroflumethiazide; and some names changed completely, such as benzhexol to trihexyphenidyl. Adrenaline and noradrenaline were the two exceptions: the UK kept those BANs and asked makers to print both names on packs.

What is not here

Pairs no official source here shows. A pair is listed only when an official record shows it; nothing is filled in from memory. Glyceryl trinitrate and nitroglycerin are left out, for example: FDA's record for nitroglycerin carries no INN tag, so no source here ties the two names together. Japanese names (JAN) are not included yet. Other countries' national names are not covered. Salt-only differences (sulfate or sulphate) are not listed as separate pairs. Brand names are a different thing: the brand name lookup covers US brands.

Sources and how the table was built

SEHD/CMO(2004)3: Change in names of certain medicinal substances, Scottish Executive Health Department, 17 March 2004, with the UK list Changing substance names from BANs to rINNs (checked 2026-09-23). The source of every former BAN and of the two BANs kept.
FDA Global Substance Registration System (GSRS), the register behind FDA's Unique Ingredient Identifiers, which tags each official name of a substance with the body that gave it: [INN], [USAN], [USP MONOGRAPH] (checked 2026-09-23). The source of every US name; each row links its own record.
WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025), which is written in INNs (checked 2026-09-23). Cited for a row when its INN appears in the list.
FDA's Drugs@FDA data, the same file the brand lookup uses (checked 2026-09-23). Cited when FDA lists the row's US name as an active ingredient.

A script (tools/build-names.cjs) fetches the UK letter and keeps each transcribed pair only if it finds that pair on one line of the letter's text; it asks GSRS for each INN and records a US name only when the INN tag and the US name sit on the same record. The whole table is one file, names.json, with every source and the date checked on each row.