(±)-1-(Isopropylamino)-3-[ p-(2-methoxyethyl)phenoxy]-2-propanol L-(+)- tartrate, 5mg IV STAT!

That’s how you’d be writing for IV metoprolol if a proposal from a few years ago had taken hold. It made sense. Many eschew brand names because they’re too commercial. But all too often forgotten is the fact that official (i.e. generic) drug names are also chosen by the companies during development. Who knows, they may contain subliminal messages. Then there’s the issue of sound alike generic names that lead to medication errors. Why not play it safe and use scientific nomenclature?