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Why are the letters "z" and "x" so popular in drug names?

25 点作者 Umalu超过 14 年前

10 条评论

schrototo超过 14 年前
I'm gonna start a company selling two rebranded generic drugs: a sleeping pill called <i>Zzz</i> and a remedy for erectile dysfunction called, obviously, <i>Xxx</i>.
Semiapies超过 14 年前
<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XtremeKoolLetterz" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XtremeKoolLetterz</a><p>(Warning: TV Tropes wiki. Do you need another time sink?)
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barrkel超过 14 年前
The numbers in this article are very frustrating, and the graph is misleading. The rise in absolute popularity of drugs with names with z and x has a lot less meaning if it's not presented along with the rise in total drugs too. That number (80% rise) is also mentioned, but you have to do mental arithmetic to figure out how that affects the other numbers, and it doesn't help you normalize the graph.<p>In fact, judging by the graph, if the total number of drugs increased by 80%, it looks like the relative popularity of "x" is actually static / declining over time.<p>All numbers for increases in popularity of x and z should have been normalized to the increase in drug count; in other words, described as an increase in the share of the total set of drug names (or share of new market entrants, or whatever).
localhost3000超过 14 年前
this guy did a similarly in-depth bit on the same topic showing precise distribution of drug name letters compared to their distribution in common written english. pretty interesting stuff. <a href="http://www.bookofodds.com/Blogs/Numbers/2010/06-June/Why-Prescription-Drug-Names-Span-the-Alphabet-from-X-to-Z" rel="nofollow">http://www.bookofodds.com/Blogs/Numbers/2010/06-June/Why-Pre...</a>
YuriNiyazov超过 14 年前
Because those letters make things "sound" scientific.
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hanibash超过 14 年前
Z is a very futuristic, advanced sounding letter. Ask a kid to draw a spaceship, and then ask him to name the spaceship. It'll probably start with Z.
ben1040超过 14 年前
I had a doc prescribe me Xyzal for allergies last year. I can't help but think the name was a running gag in the marketing department that stuck. Especially considering the drug's website includes a pronunciation key under the brand logo.
Florin_Andrei超过 14 年前
Also see sportbikes (street-legal racing motorcycles): Suzuki GSX-R, Kawasaki ZX-10R...
kondro超过 14 年前
Now someone should do the same analysis on start-up names.
wambie超过 14 年前
Zzzzzz is for sleep and xxx for sex