Top 200 Drugs Series: Part 2 - Blood Thinners, Cholesterol, and Diabetes Medications

Blood Thinners

• Purpose: Prevents blood clots and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by interrupting the body's natural clotting process.
• Types:
  • Vitamin K Antagonists
    • Inhibit vitamin K involved in clotting.
    • Example: Warfarin (Brand: Coumadin)
    • Require INR blood testing; diet can affect effectiveness.
  • Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs)
    • Direct Factor 10a inhibitors.
    • Not affected by diet; no INR testing required.
    • End with the suffix "-aban".
    • Examples:
      • Apixaban (Brand: Eliquis)
      • Rivaroxaban (Brand: Xarelto)

Antiplatelets

• Prevent platelets from sticking together, reducing heart attack or stroke risk.
• Examples:
  • Aspirin (Brand: Ecotrin)
  • Clopidogrel (Brand: Plavix)

Cholesterol Medications

• HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)
  • Reduce cholesterol production by the liver.
  • End with the suffix "-statin".
  • Examples:
    • Atorvastatin (Brand: Lipitor)
    • Simvastatin (Brand: Zocor)
    • Rosuvastatin (Brand: Crestor)
    • Pravastatin (Brand: Pravachol)
    • Lovastatin (Brand: Mevacor/Altoprev)
• Other Cholesterol Medications
  • Reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
  • Examples:
    • Fenofibrate (Brand: Tricor)
    • Omega-3 Acid Ethyl Esters (Brand: Lovaza)
    • Ezetimibe (Brand: Zetia) - Inhibits intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol.

Diabetes Medications

• Oral Medications:

  • Sulfonylureas
    • Increase insulin release from pancreas.
    • Examples:
      • Glipizide (Brand: Glucotrol)
      • Glimepiride (Brand: Amaryl)
  • Biguanides
    • Reduce liver sugar production, intestinal sugar absorption, and increase insulin sensitivity.
    • Example: Metformin (Brand: Glucophage)
  • DPP-4 Inhibitors
    • Slow degradation of GLP-1 hormone, increasing insulin release.
    • End with suffix "-gliptin".
    • Examples:
      • Linagliptin (Brand: Tradjenta)
      • Sitagliptin (Brand: Januvia)
      • Sitagliptin + Metformin (Brand: Janumet)
  • TZDs (Thiazolidinediones)
    • Increase cell sensitivity to insulin.
    • End with suffix "-glitazone".
    • Example: Pioglitazone (Brand: Actos)
  • SGLT2 Inhibitors
    • Increase glucose excretion in urine.
    • Example: Canagliflozin (Brand: Invokana)

• Injectables:

  • GLP-1 Analogs
    • Mimic incretin hormone GLP-1, increasing insulin release.
    • End with "-glutide" or "-atide".
    • Examples:
      • Liraglutide (Brand: Victoza)
      • Dulaglutide (Brand: Trulicity)
  • Insulins
    • Replace insulin naturally produced by the body.
    • Types include: rapid, short, intermediate, and long-acting.
    • Rapid-acting Insulins:
      • Onset: 30 minutes, Duration: 3-5 hours.
      • Examples:
        • Insulin Lispro (Brand: Humalog)
        • Insulin Aspart (Brand: Novolog)
    • Long-acting Insulins:
      • Onset: 2 hours, Duration: up to 24 hours (Degludec up to 45 hours).
      • Examples:
        • Insulin Glargine (Brand: Lantus/Basaglar)
        • Insulin Detemir (Brand: Levemir)
        • Insulin Degludec (Brand: Tresiba)

Stay tuned for Part 3 on GI Medications. Subscribe for more drug information videos!