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Top 200 Brand and Generic Drugs for 2024 Exams!

Jan 22nd, 2023
top 200 brand and generic drugs

200 Must-Know Medicines!

Learning the top 200 brand and generic drugs can be daunting. Many medicines have more than one active ingredient – and there are often many different brand medicines for each drug. This makes the learning process a long and gruelling one.

The MCQ format of the PTCB exam is in your favor, though.

Many medicines have similarities with either the drug name or the disease or condition it is licensed to treat. Once you begin to identify these similarities, it becomes much easier to “match” them on the day of your exam.

For example:

  • Medicine: Clozaril; active ingredient: clozapine; an antipsychotic drug.
  • Medicine: Glucophage; active ingredient: metformin; an antidiabetic drug. The name Glucophage derives from “glucose” and “phage”, which derives from the Greek for “eater”.
  • Medicine: Diflucan; active ingredient: fluconazole; an antifungal drug.
  • Medicine: Haldol; active ingredient: haloperidol; an antipsychotic drug.
  • Medicine: Ventolin; active ingredient: albuterol; a beta-2 agonist used to treat asthma. Think of “hyperventilation”, or rapid breathing.

That said, there are many medicines that do not have these kinds of obvious links. Technicians must memorize the drugs with clear links between the medicine and the name. Once these are committed to memory, you can easily identify them from a list of 4 MCQ options on the day of your exam.

Once done, you can spend more time on the more difficult ones. That’s where flashcards come in. At PTCB Test Prep, we have prepared hundreds of flashcards to help you commit these medicines to memory – detailing the top medicines, indications, side effects, and mechanisms of action. Flashcards, if made the right way, are the best way to learn the top 200 brand and generic medicines.

It is about practice, practice, practice – and repeat exposure to the names of medicines and drugs. Eventually, the medicines will stick. If you cannot find a link between a medicine name and a drug, invent a memorable one – even if it happens to sound bizarre.

In fact, the more bizarre the link, the more memorable it becomes.

For example: vardenafil is the active ingredient of Levitra. No tangible links. However, we can create one. Take the prefix, LEVIT-, and turn it into levitate, something that rises. Vardenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction, so the concept of levitation/rising suits quite well in this case. Now, every time we think about Levitra, we will remember levitate/rise and its now obvious link to erectile dysfunction!

With that said, let’s turn our attention to the top 200 brand and generic drugs – each of which is detailed with all active ingredients and the drug class each active ingredient belongs to.

Top 200 Brand and Generic Drugs!

Note: when you’ve finished studying the table below, take our Top 200 Drugs Quiz!

MedicineActive Ingredient(s)Drug Class
LexaproEscitalopramSSRI
VicodinAcetaminophen
Hydrocodone
Analgesic/antipyretic
Opioid
Prinivil
Qbrelis
LisinoprilACE inhibitor
ZocorSimvastatinStatin
SynthroidLevothyroxineThyroid hormone
Amoxil
Trimox
AmoxicillinAntibacterial drug
ZithromaxAzithromycinMacrolide antibacterial
Microzide
Aquazide
HydrochlorothiazideThiazide diuretic
NorvascAmlodipineCalcium channel blocker
XanaxAlprazolamBenzodiazepine
GlucophageMetforminOral antidiabetic drug
LipitorAtorvastatinStatin
PrilosecOmeprazoleProton-pump inhibitor
Cipro
Proquin
CiprofloxacinFluoroquinolone
ZofranOndansetronAntiemetic drug
ClozarilClozapineAntipsychotic drug
LasixFurosemideLoop diuretic
LevitraVardenafilPDE5 inhibitor
Sumycin
Ala-Tet
Brodspec
Tetracycline  Antibacterial drug
Heparin SodiumHeparinAnticoagulant drug
ValcyteValganciclovirAntiviral drug
LamictalLamotrigineAnticonvulsant drug
DiflucanFluconazoleAntifungal drug
TenorminAtenololBeta-blocker
SingulairMontelukastLeukotriene inhibitor
Flonase Nasal SprayFluticasone propionateCorticosteroid
ZyloprimAllopurinolAnti-gout drug
FosamaxAlendronateBisphosphonate
PepcidFamotidineH2 antagonist
OmnicefCefdinirCephalosporin
YazEthinyl estradiol
Drospirenone
Birth control medicine
ApresolineHydralazineAntihypertensive drug
CogentinBenztropineAntiparkinsonian drug
Tussionex PennKineticChlorpheniramine
Hydrocodone
Antihistamine
Narcotic
PaxilParoxetineSSRI
AtivanLorazepamBenzodiazepine
PyridiumPhenazopyridineAnalgesic
PlaquenilHydroxychloroquineAnti-malarial drug
LidodermLidocaineLocal anesthetic
CataflamDiclofenacNSAID
Rayos
Deltasone
PrednisoneCorticosteroid
ZetiaEzetimibeAntihyperlipidemic
EvistaRaloxifeneEstrogen modulator
DilantinPhenytoinAnticonvulsant drug
LovazaOmega-3 fatty acidsAnti-triglyceride drug
ZanaflexTizanidineMuscle relaxant
HytrinTerazosinAlpha-1 blocker
DyreniumTriamterenePotassium-sparing diuretic
AltaceRamiprilACE inhibitor
PravacholPravastatinStatin
RisperdalRisperidoneAntipsychotic drug
LunestaEszopicloneZ-drug / hypnotic
CelebrexCelecoxibCOX-inhibitor / NSAID
PremarinConjugated estrogensEstrogen replacement
AveloxMoxifloxacinFluoroquinolone
AriceptDonepezilAcetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Macrobid
Macrodantin
Nitrofurantoin  Antibacterial drug
Duragesic Skin PatchFentanylOpioid narcotic
ImdurIsosorbide mononitrateNitrate
Prozac
Sarafem
FluoxetineSSRI
AristocortTriamcinoloneCorticosteroid
SuboxoneBuprenorphine
Naloxone
Narcotic
Opioid blocker
VyvanseLisdexamfetamineCNS Stimulant
PamelorNortriptylineTricyclic antidepressant
HumaLOGInsulin lisproRapid-acting insulin
Depacon
Depakote
Valproate sodiumAnticonvulsant drug
BetaSept
ChloraPrep
ChlorhexidineDisinfectant/antiseptic
BentylDicyclomineAnti-spasmodic drug
ImitrexSumatriptanAnti-migraine drug
ProtonixPantoprazoleProton-pump inhibitor
LopressorMetoprololBeta-blocker
RobitussenDextromethorphan
Guaifenesin
Antitussive
Expectorant
ValiumDiazepamBenzodiazepine
ViagraSildenafilPDE5 inhibitor
BactrobanMupirocinAntibacterial drug
JanuviaSitagliptinAntidiabetic drug
ReglanMetoclopramideDopamine antagonist
RelafenNabumetoneNSAID
KeflexCephalexinCephalosporin
EffexorVenlafaxineSNRI
BonivaIbandronateBisphosphonate
ZantacRanitidineH2 antagonist
Ex-Lax
Senna Lax
SennaLaxative
NovoLogInsulin aspartRapid-acting insulin
Bayer
Ecotrin
Bufferin
AspirinAntipyretic
Analgesic
LioresalBaclofenMuscle relaxant
FlagylMetronidazoleAntibacterial drug
Antiprotozoal drug
KeppraLevetiracetamAnticonvulsant drug
Colcrys
Mitigare
ColchicineAnti-gout drug
ZyprexaOlanzapineAntipsychotic drug
AvodartDutasteride5-alpha reductase inhibitor
TriCor
Antara
FenofibrateFibrate
CarduraDoxazosinAlpha-1 blocker
AleveNaproxenNSAID
AldactoneSpironolactonePotassium-sparing diuretic
NamendaMemantineNMDA antagonist
MethadoseMethadoneOpioid analgesic
Vasotec
Epaned
EnalaprilACE inhibitor
TamifluOseltamivirAntiviral drug
RequipRopiniroleAntiparkinsonian drug
PC Pen VK
Pen V
PenicillinBeta-lactam antibacterial
StratteraAtomoxetineNorepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
AmbienZolpidemZ-drug / hypnotic
AdvairSalmeterol
Fluticasone
Bronchodilators
LevaquinLevofloxacinFluoroquinolone
TofranilImipramineTricyclic antidepressant
Reclast
Zometa
Zoledronic acidBisphosphonate
GlucotrolGlipizideAntidiabetic drug
ConstuloseLactuloseLaxative
AcipHexRabeprazoleProton-pump inhibitor
OtrexupMethotrexateDMARD
CleocinClindamycinAntibacterial drug
TylenolAcetaminophenAnalgesic / antipyretic
FeosolFerrous sulfateIron supplement
RelpaxEletriptanAntimigraine drug
Carbacot
Robaxin
MethocarbamolMuscle relaxant
DiaBetaGlyburideAntidiabetic drug
CelexaCitalopramSSRI
BenicarHydrochlorothiazide
Olmesartan
Thiazide diuretic
Angiotensin II blocker
CoregCarvedilolBeta-blocker
SpirivaTiotropiumAnticholinergic
XolairOmalizumabMonoclonal antibody
NitroStat SublingualNitroglycerinNitrate
EliquisApixabanAnticoagulant
NeurontinGabapentinAnticonvulsant drug
EnbrelEtanerceptDMARD
HerceptinTrastuzumabMonoclonal antibody
AtriplaEmtricitabine
Tenofovir
Efavirenz
Antiretroviral drugs
XareltoRivaroxabanAnticoagulant drug
Stalevo 50Levodopa
Carbidopa
Entacapone
Antiparkinsonian medicine
FioricetAcetaminophen
Butalbital
Caffeine
Analgesic / antipyretic
Barbiturate
LevemirInsulin detemirLong-acting insulin
LovenoxEnoxaparinLow-molecule weight heparin (LMWH)
Ritalin
Concerta
MethylphenidateCNS Stimulant
CrestorRosuvastatinStatin
Xgeva
Prolia
DenosumabMonoclonal antibody
PradaxaDabigatranAnticoagulant drug
SensiparCinacalcetCalcimimetic
VesicareSolifenacinAntimuscarinic drug
HaldolHaloperidolAntipsychotic drug
Ala-CortHydrocortisoneCorticosteroid
HumuLINInsulin isophaneIntermediate-acting insulin
IsentressRaltegravirIntegrase inhibitor
StelaraUstekinumabMonoclonal antibody
MobicMeloxicamNSAID
RemicadeInfliximabMonoclonal antibody
Night TimeAcetaminophen DiphenhydramineAnalgesic / antipyretic Antihistamine
RenvelaSevelamerPhosphate binder
FragminDalteparinLow-molecular weight
Heparin (LMWH)
ZoloftSertralineSSRI
KlonopinClonazepamBenzodiazepine
AvalideHydrochlorothiazide
Irbesartan
Thiazide diuretic
Angiotensin II blocker
CeftinCefuroximeCephalosporin
Nizoral TopicalKetoconazoleAntifungal drug
LyricaPregabalinAnticonvulsant drug
NexiumEsomeprazoleProton-pump inhibitor
Combivent RespimatAlbuterol
Ipratropium
Beta-2 agonist
Anticholinergic drug
NiaspanNiacinForm of vitamin B3
UroxatralAlfuzosinAlpha-1 blocker
BiaxinClarithromycinMacrolide antibacterial
ZomigZolmitriptanAnti-migraine drug
InvokanaCanagliflozinSGLT-2 inhibitor
Antidiabetic drug
Saxenda
Victoza
LiraglutideGLP-1 agonist
Antidiabetic drug
AlimtaPemetrexedAnticancer drug
LotrisoneClotrimazole
Betamethasone
Antifungal drug
Corticosteroid
AvastinBevacizumabAnticancer drug
SovaldiSofosbuvirHepatitis C drug
GilenyaFingolimodImmunomodulator
EpogenEpoetin alfaHuman erythropoietin
SeroquelQuetiapineAntipsychotic drug
AmarylGlimepirideAntidiabetic medicine
PercocetAcetaminophen
Oxycodone
Analgesic / antipyretic
Opioid
SandIMMUNE
Neoral
CyclosporinImmunosuppressant
LantusInsulin glargineLong-acting insulin
CialisTadalafilPDE5 inhibitor
Elavil
Vanatrip
AmitriptylineTricyclic antidepressant
LopidGemfibrozilFibrate
Flo-PredPrednisoloneCorticosteroid
AdvilIbuprofenNSAID
AceonPerindoprilACE inhibitor
DesyrelTrazodoneAntidepressant
ActosPioglitazoneThiazolidinedione
ProscarFinasteride5-alpha reductase inhibitor
Inbrija
Dopar
Larodopa
LevodopaAntiparkinsonian drug
ActonelRisedronateBisphosphonate
ProAir
Ventolin
Proventil
Albuterol  Beta-2 agonist
UltramTramadolOpiate narcotic
SonataZaleplonZ-drug / hypnotic
ZebetaBisoprololBeta-blocker
ZoviraxAcyclovirAntiviral drug
CoumadinWarfarinAnticoagulant drug
LuvoxFluvoxamineSSRI
PlavixClopidogrelAntiplatelet drug
Vibramycin
Adoxa
DoxycyclineTetracycline antibiotic
HyzaarHydrochlorothiazide
Losartan
Thiazide diuretic
Angiotensin II blocker
Kytril
Sancuso
GranisetronAntiemetic drug
RestorilTemazepamBenzodiazepine
PrevacidLansoprazoleProton-pump inhibitor
AugmentinAmoxicillin
Clavulanic acid
Penicillin antibiotic
Beta-lactamase inhibitor
Mevacor
Altoprev
LovastatinStatin

Master the Top 200 Drugs

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