Top 20 Prescription Drugs

Name: Andi Halvorsen MA Date: 02/12/2018

For every drug listed below, research on a reliable website to find and fill in the information in the chart
below. Here are two websites that you can use:www.drugs.com
https://online.epocrates.com/drugs Then, create a set of virtual flashcards on www.cram.com using the chart
below.

Once you have created your online flashcards at www.cram.com – copy and paste the link to the flashcards
here.

Side 1: Drug name as listed below

Side 2: Classification, brand name, primary and secondary purposes (what the medication is used for), routes
of administration, most common side effects, and serious adverse effects

Atorvastatin Calcium CLASSIFICATION: HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins."

BRAND NAME: Lipitor
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat high cholesterol, and to lower the
risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with
type 2 diabetes
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat coronary heart disease, or
other risk factors.
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Headache; hoarseness; lower back or side
pain; pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones; stuffy or runny
nose
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Hemorrhagic stroke; arthralgia;
diarrhea; nasopharyngitis
Levothyroxine CLASSIFICATION: Thyroid Medicine
BRAND NAME: Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid
PRIMARY PURPOSE: treats hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone)
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat or prevent goiter
(enlarged thyroid gland)
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule Liquid Filled; Oral Solution; Oral
Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Chest pain or discomfort; Fatigue;
decreased urine output; heat intolerance
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Mental depression; muscle
weakness; feelings of suspicion and distrust
Lisinopril CLASSIFICATION: ACE Inhibitor
BRAND NAME: Prinivil, Qbrelis, Zestril
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat high blood pressure in adults and
children who are at least 6 years old
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat congestive heart failure or
to improve survival after a heart attack
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Solution; Oral Tablet
 Top 20 Prescription Drugs
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Blurred vision; confusion; cloudy urine;
dizziness, faintness or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a
laying or sitting position
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Chest discomfort, tightness, or
heaviness; fast or irregular heartbeat; loss of appetite
Omeprazole CLASSIFICATION: Proton Pump Inhibitor
BRAND NAME: FIRST Omeprazole; PriLOSEC; PriLOSEC OTC;
Zegerid (Original Formulation)
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD)
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to promote healing of erosive
esophagitis
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule Delayed Release; Oral Packet; Oral
Powder for Suspension; Oral Tablet Delayed Release
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness; nausea or vomiting; abdominal
pain; headache; diarrhea
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Bleeding or crusting sores on the
lips; continuing ulcers or sores in the mouth; difficult, burning, or painful
urination
Metformin CLASSIFICATION: Diabetes Medication
BRAND NAME: Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza,
Riomet
PRIMARY PURPOSE: To improve blood sugar control in adults with
type 2 diabetes mellitus
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Sometimes used together with insulin or
other medications
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Solution: Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Extended
Release
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Abdominal or stomach discomfort; cough
or hoarseness; decreased appetite; diarrhea; fast or shallow breathing
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Seizures; shakiness; tightness in the
chest; fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
Amlodipine CLASSIFICATION: Calcium Channel Blocker that dilates blood
vessels
BRAND NAME: Norvasc
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat angina (chest pain) and other
conditions caused by coronary artery disease
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat hypertension (high blood
pressure)
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Disintegrating
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Headache; edema; rash; fatigue; dizziness
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Bleeding gums; blistering, crusting,
irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin; burning while urinating
Simvastatin CLASSIFICATION: HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors, or “statins”
BRAND NAME: Zocor
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in
the blood
 Top 20 Prescription Drugs
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart
attack, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Suspension; Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet
Disintegrating
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness; fainting; fast or irregular
heartbeat
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Bladder pain; bloody or cloudy
urine; difficulty with breathing
Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen CLASSIFICATION: Narcotic Pain Relievers
BRAND NAME: Vicodin; Anexsia, Dolorex Forte; Lortab
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to relieve moderate to severe pain
SECONDARY PURPOSE: To make you feel loopy
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule; Oral Elixir; Oral Liquid; Oral
Solution; Oral Tablet; Oral Syrup
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness; lightheadedness; drowsiness;
sleepiness
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Pain in the chest below the
breastbone; impaired hearing; difficulty having a bowel movement
Metoprolol ER CLASSIFICATION: Beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation
BRAND NAME: Lopressor, Metoprolol Succinate ER; Metoprolol
Tartrate, Toprol-XL
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat angina and hypertension
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to prevent heart attack
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Extended Release
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Tiredness; dizziness; rash
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Depression; shortness of breath,
bradycardia; hypotension
Losartan CLASSIFICATION: Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
BRAND NAME: Cozaar
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat hypertension
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to lower the risk of stroke in
certain people with heart disease
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Chest pain; diarrhea; fatigue
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Hyperkalemia; hypotension;
orthostatic hypotension
Azithromycin CLASSIFICATION: Antibiotic that fights bacteria
BRAND NAME: Azithromycin 3-day dose pack; Zithromax Z-Pak
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat many different types of infections
caused by bacteria such as respiratory infections
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Used for skin infections, ear infections and
STDs
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule; Oral Powder for Suspension; oral
powder for suspension extended release; oral tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea; loose stools; nausea
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Cracked, dry, or scaly skin;
blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
 Top 20 Prescription Drugs
Zolpidem CLASSIFICATION: Sedative
BRAND NAME: Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat insomnia
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to help you fall back asleep
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Spray; Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Extended
Release
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness; drowsiness; nausea
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Visual hallucination; anxiety,
hallucination; myalgia
Hydrochlorothiazide CLASSIFICATION: thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent
your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention
BRAND NAME: Aquazide H, HydroDIURIL, Microzide
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Treats edema (fluid retention) in people with
congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney disorders, or edema
caused n=by taking steroids or estrogen
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat hypertension
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule; Oral Solution; Oral Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea or vomiting; headache; hives
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Greatly decreased frequency or
urination or amount of urine; numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the
hands or feet
Furosemide CLASSIFICATION: Loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body
from absorbing too much salt.
BRAND NAME: Lasix, Diaqua-2, Lo-Aqua
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat edema in people with congestive
heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic
syndrome
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat hypertension
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Solution; Oral Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea; constipation; blurred vision
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Coughing up blood; darkened urine;
changes in skin color, pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
Metoprolol CLASSIFICATION: beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation
BRAND NAME: Lopressor, Metoprolol Succinate ER, Metoprolol
Tartrate, Toprol-XL
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat angina and hypertension
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat or prevent heart attack
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Extended Release
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Blurred vision; chest pain or discomfort;
confusion; dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up
suddenly from a laying or sitting position
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Cardiac failure; bradycardia;
hypotension
Pantoprazole CLASSIFICATION: proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount
of acid produced in the stomach
BRAND NAME: Protonix, Protonix IV
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat erosive esophagitis
 Top 20 Prescription Drugs
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat other conditions
involving excess stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Packet; Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Enteric
Coated
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea; nausea
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Absence of or decrease in body
movements; blindness; clay-colored stools
Gabapentin CLASSIFICATION: Anti-epileptic (anticonvulsant)
BRAND NAME: Gralise, Horizant, Neurontin, Gabarone
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat seizures
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat neuropathic pain (nerve
pain)
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule; Oral Suspension; Oral Solution;
Oral Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness; drowsiness; fatigue; fever
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Diplopia, peripheral edema, tremor,
amblyopia, irritability, and xerostomia
Amoxicillin CLASSIFICATION: penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria
BRAND NAME: Moxatag
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat many different types of infection
caused by bacteria, such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and
gonorrhea
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat infections of the ear,
nose, throat, skin or urinary tract
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule; Oral Powder for Suspension; Oral
Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Chills; diarrhea; dizziness; fast heartbeat
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Blood in the urine; chest pain; dark
urine
Prednisone CLASSIFICATION: Corticosteroid
BRAND NAME: Rayos, Sterapred
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used as an anti-inflammatory or an
immunosuppressant
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Used to treat conditions such as allergic
disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis or
breathing disorders
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Solution; Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet Delayed
Release
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Aggression; agitation; blurred vision;
dizziness; headache
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: Abdominal or stomach pain;
darkening of the skin; bloody, black, or tarry stools
Sertraline CLASSIFICATION: antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
BRAND NAME: Zoloft
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Used to treat depression, OCD, PTSD
 Top 20 Prescription Drugs
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Also used to treat panic and anxiety
disorders, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
ADMINISTRATION: Oral Capsule; Oral Solution; Oral Tablet
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness;
insomnia; headache
SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS: hypouricemia; malaise; abdominal;
pain

FLASHCARDS LINK: http://www.cram.com/flashcards/top-20-most-prescribed-drugs-9536379