How do you say mifepristone and misoprostol?

Welcome to my Pronunciation Series, Episode 16! We have 2 drug names today: mifepristone and misoprostol.

How do these pronunciation episodes work?

1. I break drug names down into syllables
2. Explain which syllable(s) have the emphasis
3. Reveal the source of the information
4. Put the written pronunciations in the show notes on thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast so that you can use them right away.

Purpose: to provide the intended pronunciations of drug names from reliable sources so that you feel more confident saying them and less frustrated learning them.

Mifepristone = MIF e PRIS tone

1. MIF, which rhymes with cliff (This syllable gets the secondary emphasis.)
2. e, which sounds either like a short “e” sound or the schwa “e” sound.
3. PRIS, like pristine (This syllable gets the primary/most emphasis.)
4. tone, like muscle tone

Misoprostol = MYE soe PROS tol

1. MYE as in, “My name is Kim.” (This syllable gets the secondary emphasis.)
2. Soe, like a needle a needle pulling thread (sew). If you say this syllable quickly, it sounds like the “Su,” in “Supper.”
3. PROS, like prostate (This syllable gets the primary/most emphasis.)
4. tol, like Toledo, OH

How did I know how to say mifepristone and misoprostol?

Both are generic drug names in the USP Dictionary Online, which is a subscription-based online reference. It is my favorite reference for generic (non-proprietary) drug names. Thank you USP Legal Dept for permission to use your written, non-proprietary drug name pronunciations in my podcast episodes and YouTube videos.

Subscribe to or Follow The Pharmacist’s Voice Podcast!

Links from this episode

USP Dictionary Online (aka USAN)

USP Dictionary’s (USAN) pronunciation guide (Source: American Medical Association’s

website)

Doctors Without Borders YouTube video with both pronunciations in the first 5 seconds.

Michelle Mosier, PharmD LinkedIn profile

Dr. Mosier’s website https://www.hopehealthadvocacy.com/