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 == Invoking the common names argument == 

 The gist of the ""epinephrine"" vs. ""adrenaline"" discussion above is that both terms are equally scientific and neither is proprietary. There are differences in regional use (eg, Spain favors ""epinephrine"" while the British favor ""adrenaline"") and there are interesting differences in usage between the lay and scientific communities within a given region (eg, lay Americans favor ""adrenaline"" while American scientists favor ""epinephrine""). 

 Worldwide, however, ""adrenaline"" is by far the most commonly used term. Using the principles of WP:COMMONNAMES, ""adrenaline"" is favored hands-down. But because there is controversy surrounding the terms, WP:MEDMOS gets invoked. And because MEDMOS defers to an international authority when there is disagreement, the article remains entitled ""epinephrine"" since that is the preferred INN term. 

 With respect to naming conventions of drugs, the function of MEDMOS is to ensure that: 
 # generic names are used instead of proprietary ones, 
 # scientific terms are used instead of lay terms, and that 
 # an international body (eg, INN) should be consulted when there are regional differences between terms. 

 These rules are perfectly appropriate, but inadequate. They nicely handled the situation of generic ""sildenafil"" vs. proprietary ""Viagra"". They were also used to support the scientific ""myocardial infarction"" over the lay ""heart attack"". And they dealt swiftly with the ""paracetamol"" vs. ""acetaminophen"" controversy because the INN prefers the former over the latter. 

 The ""epinephrine"" vs. ""adrenaline"" debate is quite different from each of these examples. Both terms are generic. They are equally scientific. But there are considerable differences in regional usage between the terms. Yet I'm against reflexively deferring to the INN in this situation because it goes against one of Wikipedia's most basic naming conventions: WP:COMMONNAMES. I am proposing that we employ common sense when applying the MEDMOS guideline. In doing so, we can clear up this disagreement without throwing up our arms and deferring elsewhere. We can simply use the common name, ""adrenaline"", and be done. 

 As precedent, consider last year's discussion regarding Tourette syndrome over at MEDMOS talk page. The debate was between ""Tourette's syndrome"" and ""Tourette's disorder"", two well recognized and equally scientific terms. However, ""Tourette's syndrome"" was vastly more commonly used, and ""Tourette's disorder"" was viewed as a pejorative by the TS community. However, rather than blindly deferring to the recommended international term, the editors used common sense and reached a consensus upon the common name. It was agreed that the term favored by the international body (ICD-10), ""Combined vocal and multiple motor tic disorder (de la Tourette)"", was inappropriate, and the more common term ""Tourette's syndrome"" was ultimately used instead. 

 I encourage us to employ the same common sense and apply WP:COMMONNAMES here as well.   "