BLENDING TRENDS IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT NAMES IN GHANA: A PHARMACO-ONOMASTIC STUDY

Abstract

The Pharmacy Council of Ghana mandates that medicine brand names reflect their active ingredients to communicate composition and therapeutic effects effectively. This framework encourages word-formation processes, particularly blending, in pharmaceutical naming. However, the blending strategies used by Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies often diverge from traditional linguistic norms. This study explores the blending trends in medicine brand names, aiming to identify types of blends and evaluate their effectiveness in conveying product composition to users. Data was sourced from locally manufactured medicines registered with the Food and Drugs Authority of Ghana, focusing specifically on brand names created through blending. The analysis revealed various blending types, such as acronyms, initialisms, initial-syllabic blends, and others, with initial-syllabic blending being the most common and effective in communicating ingredient information. Nonetheless, some blending practices obscure meanings, potentially leading to confusion and medication errors. The study recommends establishing a national pharmaceutical naming policy to standardize blending patterns, align linguistic practices with regulatory and patient-safety goals, enhance drug identification, improve public understanding, and reinforce existing pharmaceutical regulations in Ghana.