Slog - Comments on Naming Rights (and Wrongs) http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs Like any regular TV watcher, I am consistently dazzled by commercials for new prescription drugs, all of which seem to boast amazing names. (If I ever have a son, his name will be Flomax; a daughter, Plavix.) But where many drug names achieve near-poetry, others seem to be barely trying. Case in point: Abilify, which is pronounced "uh-BILL-if-eye" and prescribed for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But more than anything, it reminds of some malapropism from this monkey. ("We will abilify the Iraqis to govern themselves!") Abilify. Schizophrenics deserve better. (Especially when you hear the list of potential side effects.)... Copyright 2008 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:24:59 -0800 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:44:19 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Levislade I really wish there were a real-life ED drug called Jamitin, a la The Simpsons.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965371 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965371 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:32:07 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave Abilify sounds like a verb. I will abilify blacks to vote in the south!

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965392 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965392 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:37:43 -0800 Comment by Dr. Savage Mudege You neglected to mention Aciphex, a drug for treating digestive ailments, which by their own reckoning is pronounced "ass effects".

]]> Dr. Savage Mudege http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965410 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965410 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:42:23 -0800 Comment by umvue Abilify is only its nom de guerre. Maiden name, Aripiprazole, is probably too ethnic for American tastes.

]]> umvue http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965436 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965436 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:48:06 -0800 Comment by kid icarus I think one of the side effects of Abilify is hot girl-on-girl sex. Have you watched that commercial from start to finish? There is definitely a narrative.

]]> kid icarus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965452 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965452 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:53:11 -0800 Comment by swell Or how about the underpowered little economy car Aspira I always seemed to get from rental agencies in the 90s, especially when you say it with a lisp.

]]> swell http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965515 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965515 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:10:45 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Best baby name ideas ever! Here, I thought "Nimrod" was a good choice.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965517 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965517 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:11:49 -0800 Comment by David I think "abilify" would be a rather clever coinage -- a relief from the overused "empower."

]]> David http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965660 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965660 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:41:27 -0800 Comment by infrequent i preferred focusin.

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965747 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965747 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:00:14 -0800 Comment by Roc In comparison to the other anti-pyschotics my mother takes, the side effects of abilify are pretty par for the course. At least there's no uncontrollable weight gain. Everyone she tried simply didn't work. Hope this one does, for somebody.

]]> Roc http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965803 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965803 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:10:37 -0800 Comment by drewl repressitol

]]> drewl http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965830 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965830 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:18:12 -0800 Comment by meara Better than "habilitat", which was one of the first names they tried to get approved for it. Which made me envision the schizophrenics having to build their own houses, or something.

Ahem. Or so I hear. Not that I know anyone who worked there or anything.

]]> meara http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965853 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965853 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:23:23 -0800 Comment by Kristin Yah, those side-effects are pretty much like all the other anti-psychotics. Actually, Abilify is supposed to be better in the side-effect profile than most. And people wonder why crazy people go off their meds. Still, the medications are life-saving when prescribed properly. Thank god for pharmaceuticals is all I can say!!! Yippee!

]]> Kristin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965901 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965901 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:37:51 -0800 Comment by Madashell How about Amitiza - for chronic constipation. Yum.
Also, what's up with currently-popular girl names for babies? They all sound like stripper names.

]]> Madashell http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965931 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965931 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:53:07 -0800 Comment by monkey Quietus

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965953 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c965953 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:01:50 -0800 Comment by Stummy Flomax should just be his nickname. His proper name on the birth certificate should be Tamsulosin Hydrochloride Schmader.

]]> Stummy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c966461 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c966461 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:48:30 -0800 Comment by David Schmader Okay, this is making me actually think about adopting...

]]> David Schmader http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c966612 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c966612 Drugs Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:35:03 -0800 Comment by Andy I don't think that would be a malaprop. It would be a neologism.

]]> Andy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c967369 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/naming_rights_and_wrongs#c967369 Drugs Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:44:19 -0800