Top 200 Drugs (2025 Update) – Study Notes

Top 200 Drugs (2025 Update) – Study Notes

1. Cardiovascular – Hypertension & Heart Failure

• Lisinopril – ACE inhibitor → HTN, HF → Zestril, Prinivil

• Amlodipine – CCB → HTN, angina → Norvasc

• Metoprolol succinate – β-blocker (long-acting) → HTN, angina, HF → Toprol XL

• Metoprolol tartrate – β-blocker (short-acting) → HTN, angina, HF → Lopressor

• Carvedilol – β-blocker → HTN → Coreg

• Propranolol – β-blocker → HTN → Inderal

• Atenolol – β-blocker → HTN → Tenormin

• Valsartan – ARB → HTN → Diovan

• Losartan – ARB → HTN, diabetic nephropathy → Cozaar

• Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) – Thiazide diuretic → HTN → Microzide

• Furosemide – Loop diuretic → HTN, edema → Lasix

• Spironolactone – K⁺-sparing diuretic → HTN, HF → Aldactone

• Clonidine – α2 agonist → HTN → Catapres

• Hydralazine – Vasodilator → HF, angina → Apresoline

• Isosorbide mononitrate – Nitrate → angina, HF → Imdur

• Nitroglycerin – Nitrate derivative → angina, HF → Nitrostat

Combination Therapies:

• Lisinopril + HCTZ → Zestoretic

• Valsartan + HCTZ → Diovan HCT

• Triamterene + HCTZ → Dyazide, Maxzide

• Amlodipine + benazepril → Lotrel

• Losartan + HCTZ → Hyzaar

2. Lipid Management

• Atorvastatin – HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor → hyperlipidemia → Lipitor

• Simvastatin – HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor → hyperlipidemia → Zocor

• Rosuvastatin – HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor → hyperlipidemia → Crestor

• Lovastatin – HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor → hyperlipidemia → Mevacor

• Gemfibrozil – Fibrate → hyperlipidemia → Lopid

• Fenofibrate – Fibrate → hyperlipidemia → Tricor

• Ezetimibe – Cholesterol absorption inhibitor → hyperlipidemia → Zetia

• Omega-3 acid ethyl esters – Omega-3 FA → hyperlipidemia → Lovaza

3. Endocrine – Diabetes

• Metformin – Biguanide → T2DM → Glucophage

• Glipizide – Sulfonylurea → T2DM → Glucotrol

• Glyburide – Sulfonylurea → T2DM → Diabeta

• Sitagliptin – DPP-4 inhibitor → T2DM → Januvia

• Saxagliptin – DPP-4 inhibitor → T2DM → Onglyza

• Canagliflozin – SGLT2 inhibitor → T2DM → Invokana

• Liraglutide – GLP-1 agonist → T2DM → Victoza

• Semaglutide – GLP-1 agonist → T2DM → Ozempic

• Insulin glargine – Long-acting insulin → diabetes → Lantus, Basaglar

• Insulin detemir – Long-acting insulin → diabetes → Levemir

• Insulin lispro – Rapid-acting insulin → diabetes → Humalog

• Insulin regular – Short-acting insulin → diabetes → Humulin R

4. Endocrine – Thyroid

• Levothyroxine – Thyroid hormone → hypothyroidism → Synthroid, Levoxyl

• Thyroid extract – Thyroid hormone → hypothyroidism → Armour Thyroid

5. CNS – Psychiatric Disorders

• Sertraline – SSRI → depression, anxiety → Zoloft

• Citalopram – SSRI → depression → Celexa

• Escitalopram – SSRI → depression, anxiety → Lexapro

• Fluoxetine – SSRI → depression → Prozac

• Paroxetine – SSRI → depression, anxiety → Paxil

• Trazodone – Antidepressant (SARI) → depression, insomnia → Desyrel

• Venlafaxine – SNRI → depression, anxiety → Effexor XR

• Duloxetine – SNRI → depression, neuropathic pain → Cymbalta

• Bupropion – Antidepressant (NDRI) → depression, smoking cessation → Wellbutrin

• Mirtazapine – Antidepressant → depression → Remeron

• Amitriptyline – TCA → depression, sleep → Elavil

• Nortriptyline – TCA → depression → Pamelor

6. CNS – Anxiety, Sleep, ADHD

• Clonazepam – Benzodiazepine → anxiety, seizures → Klonopin

• Lorazepam – Benzodiazepine → anxiety → Ativan

• Diazepam – Benzodiazepine → anxiety, muscle relaxant → Valium

• Alprazolam – Benzodiazepine → anxiety, panic → Xanax

• Zolpidem – Sedative-hypnotic → insomnia → Ambien

• Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine – Stimulant → ADHD → Adderall

• Methylphenidate – Stimulant → ADHD → Ritalin, Concerta

• Dexmethylphenidate – Stimulant → ADHD → Focalin

• Lisdexamfetamine – Stimulant → ADHD → Vyvanse

• Atomoxetine – SNRI → ADHD → Strattera

7. Pain & Inflammation

• Acetaminophen – Analgesic, antipyretic → pain, fever → Tylenol

• Ibuprofen – NSAID → pain, inflammation → Motrin, Advil

• Naproxen – NSAID → pain, inflammation → Aleve

• Meloxicam – NSAID → pain, arthritis → Mobic

• Celecoxib – COX-2 inhibitor → pain, arthritis → Celebrex

• Diclofenac – NSAID → pain, arthritis → Voltaren

• Aspirin – NSAID, antiplatelet → pain, clot prevention → Bayer

• Hydrocodone/acetaminophen – Opioid combo → pain → Vicodin, Norco

• Oxycodone – Opioid → pain → OxyContin

• Tramadol – Opioid analgesic → pain → Ultram

• Morphine – Opioid → pain → MS Contin

8. Respiratory

• Albuterol – SABA → asthma, COPD → ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA

• Fluticasone – Inhaled corticosteroid → asthma → Flovent

• Salmeterol + fluticasone – ICS + LABA → asthma, COPD → Advair

• Albuterol + ipratropium – SABA + anticholinergic → COPD → Combivent

• Tiotropium – LAMA → COPD → Spiriva

• Montelukast – Leukotriene receptor antagonist → asthma, allergies → Singulair

9. GI Disorders

• Omeprazole – PPI → GERD, PUD → Prilosec

• Esomeprazole – PPI → GERD → Nexium

• Pantoprazole – PPI → GERD → Protonix

• Lansoprazole – PPI → GERD → Prevacid

• Ranitidine (withdrawn in many markets) – H2 blocker → GERD → Zantac

• Famotidine – H2 blocker → GERD → Pepcid

• Docusate sodium – Stool softener → constipation → Colace

• Polyethylene glycol (PEG 3350) – Laxative → constipation → MiraLAX

10. Anti-Infectives

• Amoxicillin – Penicillin antibiotic → infections → Amoxil

• Amoxicillin + clavulanate – Penicillin + β-lactamase inhibitor → infections → Augmentin

• Azithromycin – Macrolide antibiotic → infections → Zithromax

• Clarithromycin – Macrolide antibiotic → infections → Biaxin

• Cephalexin – Cephalosporin (1st gen) → infections → Keflex

• Cefdinir – Cephalosporin (3rd gen) → infections → Omnicef

• Ciprofloxacin – Fluoroquinolone → infections → Cipro

• Levofloxacin – Fluoroquinolone → infections → Levaquin

• Doxycycline – Tetracycline → infections → Vibramycin

• Metronidazole – Antibiotic/antiprotozoal → infections → Flagyl

• Mupirocin – Topical antibiotic → skin infections → Bactroban

11. Other Important Drugs

• Prednisone/Prednisolone – Corticosteroid → inflammation → Deltasone

• Allopurinol – Xanthine oxidase inhibitor → gout → Zyloprim

• Alendronate – Bisphosphonate → osteoporosis → Fosamax

• Warfarin – Vitamin K antagonist → anticoagulation → Coumadin

• Rivaroxaban – Factor Xa inhibitor → anticoagulation → Xarelto

• Apixaban – Factor Xa inhibitor → anticoagulation → Eliquis

• Clopidogrel – Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor) → stroke/MI prevention → Plavix

• Digoxin – Cardiac glycoside → HF, arrhythmia → Lanoxin

• Methotrexate – Antimetabolite → RA, psoriasis → Trexall

• Hydroxychloroquine – Antimalarial/DMARD → RA, lupus → Plaquenil

• Donepezil – Cholinesterase inhibitor → Alzheimer’s → Aricept

• Memantine – NMDA antagonist → Alzheimer’s → Namenda

• Sumatriptan – 5-HT1 agonist → migraine → Imitrex

• Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) – Antiviral → influenza → Tamiflu