The job of pharmacists has evolved over the last several decades as our population’s healthcare demands have changed. Pharmacists’ function in healthcare has traditionally been limited to distributing pharmaceuticals. They must also ensure that drugs are delivered to patients accurately.
Pharmacists are now essential members of our healthcare team. They are also thought to be the most approachable healthcare providers. They may also accomplish their pharmacists’ patient care procedures because of their approachability (PPCP). Collect, access, plan, implement, and follow up are all steps in this process. It’s done to keep track of and analyze the effectiveness and appropriateness of drugs, as well as to get input from patients. Pharmacists also provide advice to other health professionals on pharmaceutical therapy decisions. Also, teach students about drug composition, physicochemical qualities, and biological effects.
It might be difficult to remember the names of the top 200 drugs and generic medications. Many medications have many active ingredients, and one treatment may be available in a variety of brand names. As a result, learning is a long and difficult process.
However, the PTCB exam’s MCQ format works in your favor.
Top 200 Drugs chart
Many drugs have names that are comparable to the sickness or condition they are approved to treat. It becomes much easier to “match” them on the day of the exam once you start seeing the similarities.
Consider the following situation:
- Clozaril is an antipsychotic medication with the active component clozapine.
- Glucophage is an anti-diabetic medication that contains the active component metformin. Glucophage is derived from the words “glucose” and “phage,” which is Greek for “eating.”
- Diflucan is an antifungal medication with the active component fluconazole.
- Haldol is an antipsychotic medication with the main component haloperidol.
- Ventolin is a beta-2 agonist used to treat asthma. Its primary constituent is albuterol. Consider the term “hyperventilation,” which refers to fast breathing.
However, many drugs do not appear to have such obvious links. The medications must be memorized with a clear relationship between the medicine and its name. Once you’ve memorized these, you’ll be able to pick them out of a list of four MCQ possibilities on test day.
You may now spend more time on the more challenging tasks. Flashcards can help with this. PTCB Test Prep has created hundreds of flashcards to assist you in memorizing these medications, including the top 200 drugs, indications, side effects, and mechanisms of action. If prepared correctly, flashcards are the most effective way to learn the top 200 brands and generic drugs.
Let’s look at the top 200 brand and generic pharmaceuticals, each of which includes a list of all active chemicals as well as the drug class to which each ingredient belongs.
Medicine | Active Ingredient(s) | Drug Class |
Lexapro |
Escitalopram | SSRI |
Vicodin |
Acetaminophen Hydrocodone |
Analgesic/antipyretic Opioid |
Prinivil |
Lisinopril | ACE inhibitor |
Zocor |
Simvastatin | Statin |
Synthroid |
Levothyroxine | Thyroid hormone |
Amoxil |
Amoxicillin | Antibacterial drug |
Zithromax |
Azithromycin | Macrolide antibacterial |
Microzide |
Hydrochlorothiazide | Thiazide diuretic |
Norvasc |
Amlodipine | Calcium channel blocker |
Xanax |
Alprazolam | Benzodiazepine |
Glucophage |
Metformin | Oral antidiabetic drug |
Lipitor |
Atorvastatin | Statin |
Prilosec |
Omeprazole | Proton-pump inhibitor |
Cipro |
Ciprofloxacin | Fluoroquinolone |
Zofran |
Ondansetron | Antiemetic drug |
Clozaril |
Clozapine | Antipsychotic drug |
Lasix |
Furosemide | Loop diuretic |
Levitra |
Vardenafil | PDE5 inhibitor |
Sumycin |
Tetracycline | Antibacterial drug |
Heparin Sodium |
Heparin | Anticoagulant drug |
Valcyte |
Valganciclovir | Antiviral drug |
Lamictal |
Lamotrigine | Anticonvulsant drug |
Diflucan |
Fluconazole | Antifungal drug |
Tenormin |
Atenolol | Beta-blocker |
Singulair |
Montelukast | Leukotriene inhibitor |
Flonase Nasal Spray |
Fluticasone propionate | Corticosteroid |
Zyloprim |
Allopurinol | Anti-gout drug |
Fosamax |
Alendronate | Bisphosphonate |
Pepcid |
Famotidine | H2 antagonist |
Omnicef |
Cefdinir | Cephalosporin |
Yaz |
Ethinyl estradiol Drospirenone |
Birth control medicine |
Apresoline |
Hydralazine | Antihypertensive drug |
Cogentin |
Benztropine | Antiparkinsonian drug |
Tussionex PennKinetic |
Chlorpheniramine Hydrocodone |
Antihistamine Narcotic |
Paxil |
Paroxetine | SSRI |
Ativan |
Lorazepam | Benzodiazepine |
Pyridium |
Phenazopyridine | Analgesic |
Plaquenil |
Hydroxychloroquine | Anti-malarial drug |
Lidoderm |
Lidocaine | Local anesthetic |
Cataflam | Diclofenac | NSAID |
Rayos |
Prednisone | Corticosteroid |
Zetia |
Ezetimibe | Antihyperlipidemic |
Evista |
Raloxifene | Estrogen modulator |
Dilantin |
Phenytoin | Anticonvulsant drug |
Lovaza |
Omega-3 fatty acids | Anti-triglyceride drug |
Zanaflex |
Tizanidine | Muscle relaxant |
Hytrin |
Terazosin | Alpha-1 blocker |
Dyrenium |
Triamterene | Potassium-sparing diuretic |
Altace |
Ramipril | ACE inhibitor |
Pravachol |
Pravastatin | Statin |
Risperdal |
Risperidone | Antipsychotic drug |
Lunesta |
Eszopiclone | Z-drug / hypnotic |
Celebrex |
Celecoxib | COX-inhibitor / NSAID |
Premarin |
Conjugated estrogens | Estrogen replacement |
Avelox |
Moxifloxacin | Fluoroquinolone |
Aricept |
Donepezil | Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor |
Macrobid |
Nitrofurantoin | Antibacterial drug |
Duragesic Skin Patch |
Fentanyl | Opioid narcotic |
Imdur |
Isosorbide mononitrate | Nitrate |
Prozac |
Fluoxetine | SSRI |
Aristocort |
Triamcinolone | Corticosteroid |
Suboxone |
Buprenorphine Naloxone |
Narcotic Opioid blocker |
Vyvanse |
Lisdexamfetamine | CNS Stimulant |
Pamelor |
Nortriptyline | Tricyclic antidepressant |
HumaLOG |
Insulin lispro | Rapid-acting insulin |
Depacon |
Valproate sodium | Anticonvulsant drug |
BetaSept |
Chlorhexidine | Disinfectant/antiseptic |
Bentyl |
Dicyclomine | Anti-spasmodic drug |
Imitrex |
Sumatriptan | Anti-migraine drug |
Protonix |
Pantoprazole | Proton-pump inhibitor |
Lopressor |
Metoprolol | Beta-blocker |
Robitussen |
Dextromethorphan Guaifenesin |
Antitussive Expectorant |
Valium |
Diazepam | Benzodiazepine |
Viagra |
Sildenafil | PDE5 inhibitor |
Bactroban |
Mupirocin | Antibacterial drug |
Januvia |
Sitagliptin | Antidiabetic drug |
Reglan |
Metoclopramide | Dopamine antagonist |
Relafen |
Nabumetone | NSAID |
Keflex |
Cephalexin | Cephalosporin |
Effexor |
Venlafaxine | SNRI |
Boniva |
Ibandronate | Bisphosphonate |
Zantac |
Ranitidine | H2 antagonist |
Ex-Lax |
Senna | Laxative |
NovoLog |
Insulin aspart | Rapid-acting insulin |
Bayer |
Aspirin | Antipyretic Analgesic |
Lioresal |
Baclofen | Muscle relaxant |
Flagyl |
Metronidazole | Antibacterial drug Antiprotozoal drug |
Keppra |
Levetiracetam | Anticonvulsant drug |
Colcrys |
Colchicine | Anti-gout drug |
Zyprexa |
Olanzapine | Antipsychotic drug |
Avodart |
Dutasteride | 5-alpha reductase inhibitor |
TriCor |
Fenofibrate | Fibrate |
Cardura |
Doxazosin | Alpha-1 blocker |
Aleve |
Naproxen | NSAID |
Aldactone |
Spironolactone | Potassium-sparing diuretic |
Namenda |
Memantine | NMDA antagonist |
Methadose |
Methadone | Opioid analgesic |
Vasotec |
Enalapril | ACE inhibitor |
Tamiflu |
Oseltamivir | Antiviral drug |
Requip |
Ropinirole | Antiparkinsonian drug |
PC Pen VK |
Penicillin | Beta-lactam antibacterial |
Strattera |
Atomoxetine | Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor |
Ambien |
Zolpidem | Z-drug / hypnotic |
Advair |
Salmeterol Fluticasone |
Bronchodilators |
Levaquin |
Levofloxacin | Fluoroquinolone |
Tofranil |
Imipramine | Tricyclic antidepressant |
Reclast |
Zoledronic acid | Bisphosphonate |
Glucotrol |
Glipizide | Antidiabetic drug |
Constulose |
Lactulose | Laxative |
AcipHex |
Rabeprazole | Proton-pump inhibitor |
Otrexup |
Methotrexate | DMARD |
Cleocin |
Clindamycin | Antibacterial drug |
Tylenol |
Acetaminophen | Analgesic / antipyretic |
Feosol |
Ferrous sulfate | Iron supplement |
Relpax |
Eletriptan | Antimigraine drug |
Carbacot |
Methocarbamol | Muscle relaxant |
DiaBeta |
Glyburide | Antidiabetic drug |
Celexa |
Citalopram | SSRI |
Benicar | Hydrochlorothiazide Olmesartan | Thiazide diuretic Angiotensin II blocker |
Coreg |
Carvedilol | Beta-blocker |
Spiriva |
Tiotropium | Anticholinergic |
Xolair |
Omalizumab | Monoclonal antibody |
NitroStat Sublingual |
Nitroglycerin | Nitrate |
Eliquis |
Apixaban | Anticoagulant |
Neurontin |
Gabapentin | Anticonvulsant drug |
Enbrel |
Etanercept | DMARD |
Herceptin |
Trastuzumab | Monoclonal antibody |
Atripla | Emtricitabine Tenofovir Efavirenz |
Antiretroviral drugs |
Xarelto |
Rivaroxaban | Anticoagulant drug |
Stalevo 50 | Levodopa Carbidopa Entacapone |
Antiparkinsonian medicine |
Fioricet | Acetaminophen Butalbital Caffeine |
Analgesic / antipyretic Barbiturate |
Levemir |
Insulin detemir | Long-acting insulin |
Lovenox |
Enoxaparin | Low-molecule weight heparin (LMWH) |
Ritalin |
Methylphenidate | CNS Stimulant |
Crestor |
Rosuvastatin | Statin |
Xgeva |
Denosumab | Monoclonal antibody |
Pradaxa |
Dabigatran | Anticoagulant drug |
Sensipar |
Cinacalcet | Calcimimetic |
Vesicare |
Solifenacin | Antimuscarinic drug |
Haldol |
Haloperidol | Antipsychotic drug |
Ala-Cort |
Hydrocortisone | Corticosteroid |
HumuLIN |
Insulin isophane | Intermediate-acting insulin |
Isentress |
Raltegravir | Integrase inhibitor |
Stelara |
Ustekinumab | Monoclonal antibody |
Mobic |
Meloxicam | NSAID |
Remicade |
Infliximab | Monoclonal antibody |
Night Time |
Acetaminophen Diphenhydramine | Analgesic / antipyretic Antihistamine |
Renvela |
Sevelamer | Phosphate binder |
Fragmin | Dalteparin | Low-molecular weight Heparin (LMWH) |
Zoloft |
Sertraline | SSRI |
Klonopin |
Clonazepam | Benzodiazepine |
Avalide | Hydrochlorothiazide Irbesartan |
Thiazide diuretic Angiotensin II blocker |
Ceftin |
Cefuroxime | Cephalosporin |
Nizoral Topical |
Ketoconazole | Antifungal drug |
Lyrica |
Pregabalin | Anticonvulsant drug |
Nexium |
Esomeprazole | Proton-pump inhibitor |
Combivent Respimat | Albuterol Ipratropium |
Beta-2 agonist Anticholinergic drug |
Niaspan |
Niacin | Form of vitamin B3 |
Uroxatral |
Alfuzosin | Alpha-1 blocker |
Biaxin |
Clarithromycin | Macrolide antibacterial |
Zomig |
Zolmitriptan | Anti-migraine drug |
Invokana | Canagliflozin | SGLT-2 inhibitor Antidiabetic drug |
Saxenda |
Liraglutide | GLP-1 agonist Antidiabetic drug |
Alimta |
Pemetrexed | Anticancer drug |
Lotrisone | Clotrimazole Betamethasone |
Antifungal drug Corticosteroid |
Avastin |
Bevacizumab | Anticancer drug |
Sovaldi |
Sofosbuvir | Hepatitis C drug |
Gilenya |
Fingolimod | Immunomodulator |
Epogen |
Epoetin alfa | Human erythropoietin |
Seroquel |
Quetiapine | Antipsychotic drug |
Amaryl |
Glimepiride | Antidiabetic medicine |
Percocet |
Acetaminophen Oxycodone |
Analgesic / antipyretic Opioid |
SandIMMUNE |
Cyclosporin | Immunosuppressant |
Lantus |
Insulin glargine | Long-acting insulin |
Cialis |
Tadalafil | PDE5 inhibitor |
Elavil |
Amitriptyline | Tricyclic antidepressant |
Lopid |
Gemfibrozil | Fibrate |
Flo-Pred |
Prednisolone | Corticosteroid |
Advil |
Ibuprofen | NSAID |
Aceon |
Perindopril | ACE inhibitor |
Desyrel |
Trazodone | Antidepressant |
Actos |
Pioglitazone | Thiazolidinedione |
Proscar |
Finasteride | 5-alpha reductase inhibitor |
Inbrija |
Levodopa | Antiparkinsonian drug |
Actonel |
Risedronate | Bisphosphonate |
ProAir |
Albuterol | Beta-2 agonist |
Ultram |
Tramadol | Opiate narcotic |
Sonata |
Zaleplon | Z-drug / hypnotic |
Zebeta |
Bisoprolol | Beta-blocker |
Zovirax |
Acyclovir | Antiviral drug |
Coumadin |
Warfarin | Anticoagulant drug |
Luvox |
Fluvoxamine | SSRI |
Plavix |
Clopidogrel | Antiplatelet drug |
Vibramycin |
Doxycycline | Tetracycline antibiotic |
Hyzaar | Hydrochlorothiazide Losartan |
Thiazide diuretic Angiotensin II blocker |
Kytril |
Granisetron | Antiemetic drug |
Restoril |
Temazepam | Benzodiazepine |
Prevacid |
Lansoprazole | Proton-pump inhibitor |
Augmentin |
Amoxicillin Clavulanic acid |
Penicillin antibiotic Beta-lactamase inhibitor |
Mevacor |
Lovastatin | Statin |
The list of the top 200 most commonly prescribed drugs was compiled using data from the Clinical website. The generic name, drug class (if applicable), pharmacological activity, the principal route of administration, adverse drug reactions, and any applicable black box warnings are all used to represent particular medications. Many blockbuster drugs over the last 10 to 15 years, such as atorvastatin and simvastatin, are included in the lists. The cardiovascular, central nervous system, endocrine, and musculoskeletal medications were the most commonly administered. They were responsible for about 140 (70%) of the top 200 most prescribed drugs.
How to Memorize the Top 200 Drugs?
There are numerous other examples of connections between medicine and drug names. If you’re having trouble remembering the top 200 drugs, you should start by breaking them down into manageable, study-able chunks.
- Take note of how over the course of these twenty drugs:
- The indication (what the drug is used to treat) frequently plays a role in the medicine name, frequently in combination with a portion of the drug name.
- How the medicine name corresponds to the active ingredient name.
- The mechanism of action, or how the drug tends to work, is sometimes included as well.
- How some Latin-derived medicine names are derived.
These relationships are critical.
The more connections you can find, the easier it is to remember. Instead of memorizing a drug pair for the sake of memorizing it, you’re breaking these words down to learn about the relationships – and from there, you can add more details – including side effects – later on. But don’t overextend yourself.
Do as we have done here and start with the first twenty and memorize them. Then make a list of the next twenty and follow the same procedure. Don’t forget to go over these drugs and medicines again before moving on to the rest of the 200.
Before your go…
PTCB practice questions are preferred by some students, while flashcards are preferred by others. Follow your instincts. It takes time, to be sure, but what matters is that you involve this type of defined structure in your research. No student will remember every detail about every medicine and drug. However, by taking this route, you will cover all of the expected types of PTCB questions that are frequently asked on the exam.
We hope you found this guide on the top 200 drugs useful! If you want to learn the top 200 with detailed information covering indications, mechanisms of action, side effects, and the most important interactions, let’s enroll in our PTCB pro pack to gain immediate access to these premium features.
Pharmacists play an important role in our healthcare team. They are also regarded to be the most accessible healthcare professionals. Pharmacists may find the top 200 drugs list useful as a source of inspiration. Researchers and other healthcare professionals interested in creating new strategies for treating people with various diseases are also welcome.
Knowing the drug helps you to improve your professional skills and help you solve work requirements quickly. Day by day, you will improve your own level which can help increase the salary you receive, especially today when the pharmaceutical industry is on the rise, this is also a way for you to increase your income. Let’s refer to the Average pharmacist salary to see if you are being paid reasonably.
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