Common Medications

Medication Routes:

How Medication is Given (Medical Term) Common Meaning

PO by mouth
IV intravenous
IVP intravenous push
IVPB intravenous piggyback
Drip IV drip
SQ subcutaneous
PR per rectum
SL sublingual
IM intramuscular

Common Frequencies of Dosing Medications:

Frequency Abbreviation Common Meaning

QD * once daily
BID twice daily
TID three times daily
QID four times daily
QOD * every other day
PRN as needed
Q4H every 4 hours (can be any number)
QHS at bedtime
*These abbreviations should only be used in electronic orders. For written/typed prescriptions, write out the
whole meaning instead to avoid confusion.

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Analgesics:

Generic Name Brand Name

hydrocodone-acetaminophen Vicodin, Norco, Lortab
oxycodone-acetaminophen Percocet
hydromorphone Dilaudid
morphine MS Contin, Avinza
fentanyl Duragesic
acetaminophen Tylenol
aspirin Aspirin
ibuprofen Motrin, Advil
ketorolac Toradol
naproxen Naprosyn, Aleve
tramadol Ultram

Antibiotics:

Generic Name Brand Name

levofloxacin Levaquin
ciprofloxacin Cipro
cefazolin Ancef
cephalexin Keflex
ceftriaxone Rocephin
azithromycin Zithromax, Z-Pak
piperacillin-tazobactam Zosyn
amoxicillin Amoxil
amoxicillin-clavulanate Augmentin
metronidazole Flagyl
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole Bactrim
clindamycin Cleocin
doxycycline Monodox, Doryx
nitrofurantoin Macrobid, Macrodantin
vancomycin Vancocin

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Anticoagulants:

Generic Name Brand Name

tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) OR
rtPA, PLAT, alteplase tPA, Activase
streptokinase Streptase
aspirin Aspirin
warfarin Coumadin
heparin heparin
enoxaparin Lovenox
clopidogrel Plavix
apixaban Eliquis
rivaroxaban Xarelto
dabigatran Pradaxa
prasugrel Effient
ticagrelor Brilinta

Antihyperglycemics:

Generic Name Brand Name

insulin lispro Humalog
insulin aspart Novolog
insulin glargine Lantus
insulin detemir Levemir
metformin Glucophage
glipizide Glucotrol
glimeperide Amaryl
sitagliptin Januvia
canagliflozin Invokana

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Antihypertensives:

Generic Name Brand Name

clonidine Catapres
atenolol Tenormin
metoprolol Lopressor, Toprol XL
carvedilol Coreg
hydrochlorothiazide HydroDiuril
spironolactone Aldactone
lisinopril Prinivil
losartan Cozaar
amlodipine Norvasc
nifedipine Procardia
furosemide Lasix
bumetanide Bumex
hydralazine Apresoline

Antihyperlipidemics:

Generic Name Brand Name

atorvastatin Lipitor
simvastatin Zocor
rosuvastatin Crestor
niacin Niaspan
ezetimibe Zetia

Anxiolytics:

Generic Name Brand Name

alprazolam Xanax
diazepam Valium
clonazepam Klonopin
lorazepam Ativan

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Local Anesthetics:

Generic Name Brand Name

bupivacaine Marcaine/Sensorcaine
lidocaine Xylocaine
lidocaine with epinephrine Xylocaine with Epinephrine

Anti-arrhythmics:

Generic Name Brand Name

verapamil Calan, Verelan
diltiazem Cardizem
nifedipine Procardia
amiodarone Nexterone
adenosine Adenocard
digoxin Lanoxin

Anti-emetics:

Generic Name Brand Name

ondansetron Zofran
metoclopramide Reglan
promethazine Phenergan
prochlorperazine Compazine

Antihistamines:

Generic Name Brand Name

diphenhydramine Benadryl
loratadine Claritin
cetirizine Zyrtec
fexofenadine Allegra
levocetirizine Xyzal

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Anxiolytics:

Generic Name Brand Name

alprazolam Xanax
diazepam Valium
clonazepam Klonopin
lorazepam Ativan

Bronchodilators:

Generic Name Brand Name

albuterol Ventolin
ipratropium Atrovent
albuterol-ipratropium DuoNeb
levalbuterol Xopenex
theophylline Quibron-T

Corticosteroids:

Generic Name Brand Name

prednisolone Orapred
prednisone Deltasone
methylprednisolone Solu-Medrol/Medrol Dosepak
dexamethasone Decadron

Diuretics:

Generic Name Brand Name

furosemide Lasix
bumetanide Bumex
spironolactone Aldactone
hydrochlorothiazide HCTZ/Hydrouridil

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GERD Treatments:

Generic Name Brand Name

esomeprazole Nexium
omeprazole Prilosec
pantoprazole Protonix
lansoprazole Prevacid
famotidine Pepcid
cimetidine Tagamet
ranitidine Zantac

Thyroid Medications:

Generic Name Brand Name

thyroud dessicated Armour Thyroid
levothyroxine Synthroid
liothyronine Cytomel

Antidepressants:

Generic Name Brand Name

sertraline Zoloft
fluoxetine Prozac
paroxetine Paxil
citalopram Celexa
escitalopram Lexapro
venlafaxine Effexor
duloxetine Cymbalta
bupropion Wellbutrin
mirtazapine Remeron
amitriptyline Elavil

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