How to find the generic name of any medicine brand

Method 1: read it on the pack

Most packs print the generic name close to the brand name, in smaller letters, usually together with the strength. For example, a pack might show a large brand name and, below it, "Paracetamol 500 mg". If the pack lists two or more ingredients joined by "+" or "and", the product is a combination and its generic name includes all of them.

How to read a medicine pack

Method 2: search this site

1. Type the brand name into the search box. You can add the strength, for example "Napa 500", to narrow the results.
2. Pick the result that matches your pack's strength and dosage form (tablet, syrup, and so on).
3. Open the medicine page. The generic name is shown as its own field, with a link to the generic's page.
4. Check the manufacturer too. It should match the company printed on your pack.

Search medicines by brand name

If you are unsure of the spelling, browse brands alphabetically instead. The A–Z index lists every brand in the registry snapshot by its first letter.

Browse medicine brands A–Z

Watch for these mix-ups

• One brand name, different generics. In the DGDA registry snapshot used on this site, the brand Ace is listed with the generic Paracetamol, and a 65 mg + 500 mg Ace tablet is listed with Caffeine + Paracetamol. Always match the strength and form.
• One brand name, more than one company entry. Some brands are registered under related companies, such as separate units of the same group. Check the manufacturer on the pack.
• Similar-looking names. Brands that differ by one letter can be completely different medicines.
• Suffixes. Letters such as XR, SR or ER after a brand name usually mean a different, extended or sustained release product with its own entry.

From the generic to all its brands

Once you know the generic name, its page shows every product with that generic in the registry snapshot, with their different strengths, forms and companies. Paracetamol, for example, has 436 registered products in the snapshot.

Example: all registered Paracetamol products

When the brand is not found

• Try another spelling or only the first few letters.
• Look up the DAR number printed on the pack on the verify page instead.
• The product may have been registered after the snapshot date. Check with DGDA at dgda.gov.bd.
• Ask a registered pharmacist to read the pack with you.

Knowing the generic name is for understanding labels, not for choosing or replacing a medicine. Ask a registered doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.