Overview
This lecture reviews key information about the top 200 prescribed drugs, highlighting their brand names, pharmacologic classes, and main uses.
Common Analgesics and Antipyretics
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Used for pain and fever.
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil): NSAID for pain and inflammation.
- Aspirin (Ecatrin): Antiplatelet blood thinner.
Antibiotics and Antivirals
- Amoxicillin (Amoxil): Penicillin antibiotic.
- Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid (Augmentin): Penicillin antibiotic.
- Azithromycin (Zithromax): Macrolide antibiotic.
- Cephalexin (Keflex), Cefdinir (Omnicef): Cephalosporin antibiotics.
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro): Fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
- Acyclovir (Zovirax): Antiviral for herpes and varicella.
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu): Antiviral for influenza.
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex): Antiviral for herpes and varicella.
- Fluconazole (Diflucan), Ketoconazole (Nizoral): Azole antifungal agents.
Cardiovascular Medications
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Simvastatin (Zocor): Statins for high cholesterol.
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril): ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure.
- Losartan (Cozaar), Valsartan (Diovan): Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
- Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL): Beta blocker for hypertension and irregular heartbeat.
- Amlodipine (Norvasc): Calcium channel blocker for hypertension.
- Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide): Thiazide diuretic for hypertension and swelling.
- Warfarin (Coumadin), Apixaban (Eliquis), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto): Anticoagulants (blood thinners).
Diabetes Medications
- Metformin (Glucophage): Biguanide for type 2 diabetes.
- Insulin Glargine (Lantus): Long-acting insulin.
- Glimepiride (Amaryl), Glipizide (Glucotrol): Sulfonylureas for diabetes.
- Canagliflozin (Invokana): SGLT2 inhibitor for diabetes.
CNS and Mental Health Medications
- Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Citalopram (Celexa): SSRI antidepressants.
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta): SNRI antidepressant.
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin): NDRI antidepressant and smoking cessation aid.
- Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), Diazepam (Valium): Benzodiazepines for anxiety (DEA Schedule IV).
- Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (Adderall), Methylphenidate (Ritalin): CNS stimulants for ADHD (DEA Schedule II).
- Quetiapine (Seroquel), Aripiprazole (Abilify), Risperidone (Risperdal): Antipsychotics.
Other Notable Medications
- Levothyroxine (Synthroid): Thyroid hormone replacement.
- Furosemide (Lasix): Loop diuretic for swelling.
- Prednisone (Deltasone), Methylprednisolone (Medrol): Steroids for inflammation.
- Montelukast (Singulair): Leukotriene receptor antagonist for asthma/allergy.
- Tamsulosin (Flomax): Alpha blocker for enlarged prostate.
Key Terms & Definitions
- NSAID — Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain and inflammation.
- SSRI — Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, class of antidepressants.
- ACE inhibitor — Drug class for hypertension by blocking angiotensin-converting enzyme.
- Beta blocker — Reduces heart rate and blood pressure.
- Statin — HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, lowers cholesterol.
- Anticoagulant — Medication that prevents blood clotting.
- Sulfonylurea — Oral diabetes medication increasing insulin release.
- Benzodiazepine — Class of drugs for anxiety and insomnia, with dependency risk.
- CNS stimulant — Drug class to increase focus, often for ADHD.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review all key drug names, classes, and indications.
- Memorize brand and generic name pairings for exam preparation.
- Familiarize yourself with DEA schedules for controlled medications.