Common prescription medications

It's frequently helpful to check what a prescription medication does. Some ways to figure it out:

• Our patients will usually be able to explain what their medications do
• It doesn't hurt to just search the name – that's what our medics do too!
• There are apps out there that can serve as offline references – check with fellow volunteers for what they use.
• Check this list!

Note: brand names are capitalized below, while the name for the drug itself is lowercase. For instance: "ibuprofen (Advil)"

Anti-Coagulants (Blood Thinners)

Note: These medications increase our index of suspicion for internal bleeding, brain bleeds, etc. ALS evaluation is required.

• warfarin (Coumadin)
• dabigatran (Pradaxa)
• clopidogrel (Plavix)
• apixaban (Eliquis)
• rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
• enoxaparin (Lovenox)
• heparin

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Note: Recent ED medication use may limit our ability to provide nitro. Check with patient and consult BLS protocols.

• sildenafil (Viagra)
• tadalafil (Cialis)
• vardenafil (Levitra)
• avanafil (Stendra)
• Additionally, most drugs ending in:
  • -afil

Anti-Hypertensives (High BP)

Mechanisms

• Beta Blockers
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Thiazide Diuretics
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers
• ACE (angiotensin - converting enzyme inhibitors)

Medications

• amlodipine (Norvasc) = calcium channel blocker
• benazepril (Lotensin) = ACE inhibitor
• hydrochlorothiazide/HCTZ = thiazide diuretic
• valsartan (Diovan) = Angiotensin II Blocker
• metoprolol (Lopressor) = beta blocker
• lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) = ACE inhibitor
• In addition, most medications ending in:
  • -pril
  • -olol
  • -thiazide
  • -tan

note: Caduet is a fixed-dose combination of amlodipine (for high blood pressure) and atorvastatin (for high cholesterol)

High Cholesterol

(reminder: most people want lower triglycerides; lower LDL; higher HDL)

Medications

• atorvastatin (Liptor)
• simvastatin (Zocor)
• rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• ezetimibe (Zetia)
• In addition, most medications ending in:
  • -statin
  • or trade names ending in -tor

note: Caduet is a fixed-dose combination of amlodipine (for high blood pressure) and atorvastatin (for high cholesterol)

Diuretics

Mechanisms

• Loop-acting (Reduce Water/Salt)
• Potassium-Sparing (Reduce water; No B/P Support; Saves Potassium)
• Thiazides (Lowers B/P; Widens Vessels; Reduces Salt/Water)

Medications

• bumetanide (Bumex) = loop
• furosemide (Lasix) = loop
• spironolactone (Aldactone) = potassium sparing
• amiloride (Midamor) = potassium sparing
• hydrocholothiazide (HTCZ) = thiazide
• chlortalidone (Hygroton) = thiazide

Insulins

Injectable insulin is categorized by how quickly it takes effect:

• Rapid-acting
  • insulin aspart (Novolog)
  • insulin lispro (Humalog)
  • insulin glulisine (Apidra)
  • or medications ending in:
    • -olog
    • -alog
• Regular/short-acting
  • insulin (Humulin, Novolin)
  • or medications ending in:
    • -lin
• Intermediate-acting
  • insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N)
• Long-acting
  • insulin glargine (Lantus)
  • insulin detemir (Levemir)

Oral medications (type 2 diabetes only)

• metformin (Glucophage)
• glipizide (Glucotrol)
• pioglitazone (Actos)
• glyburide/glibencalmide (Diabeta)
• sitagliptin (Januvia)
• linagliptin (Tradjenta)
• dulaglutide (Trulicity)
• liraglutide (Victoza)
• dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
• empagliflozin (Jardiance)
• gabapentin (Neurontin)
  • Specifically for Neuropathy, epilepsy & nerve pain
  • People who are diabetic will take for neuropathy (i.e. nerve damage – numb, burning, prickling)
• semaglutide (Ozempic)

Mental Health

Bipolar

• lithium compounds

Schizophrenia

• clozapine (Clozaril)
• aripiprazole (Abilify)
• ziprasidone (Geodon)
• risperidone (Risperdal)
• quetiapine (Seroquel)
• paliperidone (Invega)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• lurasidone (Latuda)
• haloperidol (Haldol)

Dementia/Alzheimers

• donepezil (Aricept)
• memantine (Namenda)

Anxiety

• alprazolam (Xanax)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• Additionally, medications ending in:
  • -lam

Depression

• sertraline (Zoloft)
• citalopram (Celexa)
• escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
• aripiprazole (Abilify)
• trazodone
• Additionally, medications ending in:
  • -zole
  • -pram

Anti-Convulsants (Seizure Meds)

• levetiracetam (Keppra)
• valproate/VPA (Depakote)
• phenytoin/PHT (Dilantin)
• lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• topiramate (Topamax)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• phenobarbital (Luminol)

Pain

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin)
  • naproxen (Aleve)
  • aspirin (Bayer Aspirin)
• acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol)
• Anti-depressants/anti-convulsants
  • Chronic pain is often caused by nerve things, and anti-depressants/anti-convulsants can help with that flavor of pain
• Narcotics
  • codeine
  • morphine (Statex)
  • oxycodone (OxyContin)
  • methadone (Dolophine)
  • fentanyl (Actiq)
  • hydrocodone
  • hydromorphone
  • tramadol (Ultram)
  • Anything ending in -done

Insomnia

• melatonin (available over the counter)
• zolpidem (Ambien)
• eszopiclone (Lunestra)
• zaleplon (Sonata)

Nausea

Zofran - anti nausea