Generic name refers to which of the following?

• A. The brand name by which a drug is marketed
• B. The chemical name
• C. The generic name
• D. The dosage form

Answer: (C)

A generic name is the nonproprietary name given to a drug by regulatory authorities, used universally across all manufacturers. It identifies the drug itself, not a specific company's product. For example, acetaminophen is the generic name, while Tylenol is a brand name from a particular company. The chemical name is a formal, structural description of the molecule, which is typically not used in everyday practice. The dosage form refers to how the drug is delivered—tablet, capsule, syrup, etc.—not its name. So the generic name is the standard, non-brand name that remains the same no matter who makes the drug.