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Top 100 Drugs Overview

Jul 22, 2025

Overview

This lecture reviews the top 100 commonly prescribed drugs, covering their brand names, classes, main uses, and important characteristics for pharmacy practice.

Statins (Cholesterol-lowering Drugs)

  • Atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Pravachol), lovastatin (Mevacor) are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors used for high cholesterol.

Antihypertensives (Blood Pressure Medications)

  • Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) is an ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure.
  • Losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan) are angiotensin receptor blockers.
  • Amlodipine (Norvasc) and diltiazem (Cardizem) are calcium channel blockers.
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), carvedilol (Coreg), propranolol (Inderal), and atenolol (Tenormin) are beta blockers.

Diabetes Medications

  • Metformin (Glucophage) is a biguanide oral medication for diabetes.
  • Glipizide (Glucotrol), glimepiride (Amaryl) are sulfonylureas.
  • Insulin glargine (Lantus), insulin aspart (Novolog), insulin lispro (Humalog) are injectable insulins.
  • Sitagliptin (Januvia) is a DPP-4 inhibitor.

Antidepressants and Anti-anxiety Medications

  • Sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil) are SSRI antidepressants.
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin), trazodone (Desyrel), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor), mirtazapine (Remeron), and amitriptyline (Elavil) are other antidepressants.
  • Alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan) are benzodiazepines for anxiety (DEA Schedule IV).

Pain and Inflammation Medications

  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), meloxicam (Mobic), diclofenac (Voltaren) are NSAIDs.
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is for mild pain/fever.
  • Tramadol (Ultram), hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Norco), oxycodone (Oxycontin) are opioid analgesics (DEA schedules).
  • Aspirin (Ecotrin) is an anti-platelet and pain reliever.

Antibiotics and Antivirals

  • Amoxicillin (Amoxil), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (Augmentin), cephalexin (Keflex) are penicillin/cephalosporin antibiotics.
  • Azithromycin (Zithromax), doxycycline (Doryx), sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim (Bactrim) are other antibiotics.
  • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is an antiviral for influenza.

Other Important Medications

  • Levothyroxine (Synthroid) is a thyroid hormone.
  • Montelukast (Singulair) is for asthma/allergies.
  • Fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort), fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair) are steroids/inhalers for asthma/COPD.
  • Warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), clopidogrel (Plavix) are blood thinners.
  • Furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone) are diuretics.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Statin — cholesterol-lowering medication, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.
  • ACE Inhibitor — drug that lowers blood pressure by blocking angiotensin-converting enzyme.
  • Beta Blocker — medication that reduces blood pressure and heart rate.
  • SSRI — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, used for depression/anxiety.
  • NSAID — non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain/inflammation.
  • Opioid Analgesic — strong pain reliever, may be DEA controlled.
  • Diuretic — medication that increases urine output to reduce blood pressure/swelling.
  • DPP-4 Inhibitor — diabetes medication that increases insulin secretion.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review top 100 drug names, classes, and uses.
  • Prepare flash cards or practice with sample questions before the top 150 drugs review.

Full transcript