Which term refers to the nonproprietary name of a drug?

• A. Trade/Brand name
• B. Generic name
• C. Amp.
• D. Cap.

Answer: (B)

The nonproprietary name of a drug is its generic name. This is the official, standardized name used worldwide to identify the active substance, regardless of who makes or markets it. Generic names are assigned by naming authorities (like INN/USAN) so that healthcare professionals can recognize and discuss a drug consistently across different brands and countries. Brand or trade names are the marketing labels chosen by manufacturers and can vary; they aren’t the standardized identifier of the drug. Abbreviations such as those for dosage forms (like amp for ampoule or cap for capsule) don’t name the drug itself, so they don’t fit as the nonproprietary name.