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A Time and Place for Brand Names

Norman C. Charles, MD
Arch Ophthalmol. 2010;128(7):945-945. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.113
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Published online

Friedman's excellent discussion of drugs associated with the floppy-iris syndrome1 sends an important alert to readers unfamiliar with the association, with 1 exception; it assiduously avoids listing brand (proprietary) names. During history taking, patients do not ordinarily introduce a generic term such as tamsulosin; they say “Doctor, I am taking Flomax.” It is at that point that the ophthalmologist should instruct the patient to remind the cataract surgeon about that drug, or to highlight it in the chart if the examiner plans to perform the cataract surgery. After inquiring about medications, one should ask about health food supplements. Substances such as saw palmetto may only be disclosed after specifically inquiring about items obtained from a health food store.

The Archives’ “Instructions for Authors” suggests that the use of brand names in a scientific article may sometimes be appropriate. Not every practitioner has the time or inclination to look up the trade name corresponding to each nonproprietary name. As a service to the ophthalmic community, the following Table lists the brand names linked to the floppy-iris syndrome.

Table Grahic Jump LocationTable. Names of Drugs Associated With Floppy-Iris Syndrome

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Correspondence: Dr Charles, Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Ave, New York, NY 10016 (norman.charles@med.nyu.edu).

Financial Disclosure: None reported.

Editor's Note: The nonproprietary name of a drug is preferred in almost all instances. If it is necessary to include the proprietary (brand or trade) name for reproduction or interpretation of the study, the proprietary name should be given parenthetically following the nonproprietary name, at first mention in the abstract, text, and each figure or table in which it appears. In addition, the proprietary and supplier's name and location should be given in the “Methods” section. In the case in which a manuscript is comparing various brands of a single product, or in which an adverse event is described that might be unique to a single brand of product, both the proprietary and nonproprietary names should appear at first mention and the proprietary name(s) should be used thereafter.

REFERENCES

Friedman  AH. α1-Adrenergic blockers and intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol 2009;127 (11) 1538- 1539
PubMed
CrossRef

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Table Grahic Jump LocationTable. Names of Drugs Associated With Floppy-Iris Syndrome

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Friedman  AH. α1-Adrenergic blockers and intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol 2009;127 (11) 1538- 1539
PubMed
CrossRef

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