INN
Medical abbreviation · Pharmacology
| Stands for | International Nonproprietary Name |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
INN stands for International Nonproprietary Name, a pharmacology abbreviation.
Official generic name for a drug substance assigned by the World Health Organization, used worldwide in labeling, research and prescribing. INNs use shared stems that signal a drug's class, such as -mab for monoclonal antibodies and -pril for ACE inhibitors.
Example: The INN paracetamol and the US name acetaminophen refer to the same drug.
Usage notes
The WHO INN program dates from the early 1950s. Using INNs on prescriptions avoids confusion between brand names that differ by country. Most national names now match INNs, but notable exceptions remain, such as acetaminophen (US) versus paracetamol and albuterol (US) versus salbutamol.
Related abbreviations
More pharmacology abbreviations
- Css – Steady-state concentration
- CYP – Cytochrome P450
- DDD – Defined daily dose
- DDI – Drug-drug interaction
- DLT – Dose-limiting toxicity
- ED50 – Median effective dose
- LD50 – Median lethal dose
- MOA – Mechanism of action
- MTD – Maximum tolerated dose
- NTI – Narrow therapeutic index
- OIC – Opioid-induced constipation
- OIH – Opioid-induced hyperalgesia
See all 36 pharmacology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.