What are the 200 most common medications?

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The 200 Most Common Medications in Clinical Practice

The most commonly prescribed medications include antihypertensives, antidepressants, opioids, gabapentinoids, and benzodiazepines, with antihypertensives being the most widely used class worldwide. 1

Cardiovascular Medications

Antihypertensives

  • ACE Inhibitors

    • Lisinopril (10-40mg daily)
    • Ramipril (2.5-20mg daily)
    • Enalapril (5-40mg daily)
    • Benazepril (10-40mg daily)
    • Quinapril (10-80mg daily) 1

  • Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

    • Losartan (25-100mg daily)
    • Valsartan (80-320mg daily)
    • Candesartan (8-32mg daily)
    • Irbesartan (150-300mg daily)
    • Olmesartan (20-40mg daily) 1

  • Calcium Channel Blockers

    • Amlodipine (2.5-10mg daily)
    • Diltiazem ER (120-360mg daily)
    • Nifedipine LA (30-90mg daily)
    • Verapamil SR (120-360mg daily)
    • Felodipine (2.5-10mg daily) 1

  • Diuretics

    • Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5-50mg daily)
    • Chlorthalidone (12.5-25mg daily)
    • Furosemide (20-80mg twice daily)
    • Spironolactone (25-100mg daily)
    • Bumetanide (0.5-2mg twice daily) 1

  • Beta Blockers

    • Metoprolol succinate (50-200mg daily)
    • Metoprolol tartrate (100-200mg twice daily)
    • Atenolol (25-100mg twice daily)
    • Carvedilol (12.5-50mg twice daily)
    • Bisoprolol (2.5-10mg daily) 1

Lipid-Lowering Medications

  • Atorvastatin (10-80mg daily)
  • Simvastatin (10-40mg daily)
  • Rosuvastatin (5-40mg daily)
  • Pravastatin (10-80mg daily)
  • Ezetimibe (10mg daily) 2

Diabetes Medications

  • Metformin (500-2000mg daily)
  • Glipizide (5-20mg daily)
  • Glyburide (2.5-20mg daily)
  • Sitagliptin (100mg daily)
  • Empagliflozin (10-25mg daily)
  • Semaglutide (0.25-2.0mg weekly)
  • Dulaglutide (0.75-4.5mg weekly)
  • Liraglutide (0.6-1.8mg daily) 2

Psychiatric Medications

Antidepressants

  • SSRIs

    • Sertraline (50-200mg daily)
    • Fluoxetine (10-80mg daily)
    • Escitalopram (10-20mg daily)
    • Citalopram (10-40mg daily)
    • Paroxetine (10-50mg daily) 1

  • SNRIs

    • Duloxetine (30-120mg daily)
    • Venlafaxine (75-225mg daily)
    • Desvenlafaxine (50-100mg daily) 2

  • Tricyclic Antidepressants

    • Amitriptyline (10-150mg daily)
    • Nortriptyline (10-150mg daily)
    • Doxepin (10-150mg daily) 1

Anxiolytics/Sedatives

  • Benzodiazepines

    • Alprazolam (0.25-4mg daily)
    • Lorazepam (0.5-6mg daily)
    • Clonazepam (0.5-4mg daily)
    • Diazepam (2-40mg daily) 1

  • Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotics

    • Zolpidem (5-10mg at bedtime)
    • Eszopiclone (1-3mg at bedtime)
    • Zaleplon (5-20mg at bedtime) 1

Antipsychotics

  • Quetiapine (25-800mg daily)
  • Risperidone (0.5-6mg daily)
  • Olanzapine (2.5-20mg daily)
  • Aripiprazole (2-30mg daily)
  • Haloperidol (0.5-20mg daily) 1

Pain Medications

NSAIDs

  • Ibuprofen (400-800mg three times daily)
  • Naproxen (250-500mg twice daily)
  • Meloxicam (7.5-15mg daily)
  • Diclofenac (50-150mg daily)
  • Celecoxib (100-200mg daily) 1, 3

Opioids

  • Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (5-10mg/325mg every 4-6 hours)
  • Oxycodone (5-30mg every 4-6 hours)
  • Tramadol (50-100mg every 4-6 hours)
  • Morphine (15-30mg every 4 hours)
  • Fentanyl (25-100mcg/hr patch) 1

Other Analgesics

  • Acetaminophen (325-1000mg every 4-6 hours)
  • Gabapentin (300-1200mg three times daily)
  • Pregabalin (50-200mg three times daily)
  • Lidocaine patches (5%) 1, 2, 3

Gastrointestinal Medications

  • Acid Suppressants

    • Omeprazole (20-40mg daily)
    • Pantoprazole (40mg daily)
    • Esomeprazole (20-40mg daily)
    • Famotidine (20-40mg daily)
    • Ranitidine (150-300mg daily)

  • Anti-emetics

    • Ondansetron (4-8mg three times daily)
    • Promethazine (12.5-25mg every 4-6 hours)
    • Metoclopramide (5-10mg three times daily)
    • Prochlorperazine (5-10mg three times daily)
    • Rolapitant (180mg once) 1

Respiratory Medications

  • Bronchodilators

    • Albuterol (2-4 puffs every 4-6 hours)
    • Tiotropium (18mcg daily)
    • Ipratropium (2 puffs four times daily)
    • Salmeterol (1 puff twice daily)
    • Formoterol (1 puff twice daily)

  • Inhaled Corticosteroids

    • Fluticasone (88-440mcg twice daily)
    • Budesonide (180-360mcg twice daily)
    • Mometasone (110-220mcg daily)
    • Beclomethasone (40-80mcg twice daily)
    • Ciclesonide (80-160mcg daily)

Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets

  • Warfarin (2-10mg daily)
  • Apixaban (2.5-5mg twice daily)
  • Rivaroxaban (10-20mg daily)
  • Dabigatran (110-150mg twice daily)
  • Aspirin (81-325mg daily)
  • Clopidogrel (75mg daily)

Antibiotics

  • Amoxicillin (250-500mg three times daily)
  • Amoxicillin/clavulanate (875/125mg twice daily)
  • Azithromycin (250-500mg daily)
  • Ciprofloxacin (250-750mg twice daily)
  • Doxycycline (100mg twice daily)
  • Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (1-2 tablets twice daily)
  • Cephalexin (250-500mg four times daily)
  • Metronidazole (500mg three times daily)

Weight Management Medications

  • Phentermine (15-37.5mg daily)
  • Phentermine/topiramate ER (3.75/23mg to 15/92mg daily)
  • Orlistat (120mg three times daily)
  • Liraglutide 3.0mg (0.6-3.0mg daily)
  • Semaglutide (0.25-2.4mg weekly) 1

Common OTC Medications

  • Paracetamol/Acetaminophen (most common OTC medication)
  • Ibuprofen
  • Aspirin
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Loratadine
  • Cetirizine
  • Pseudoephedrine
  • Guaifenesin 3

Medication Selection Considerations

When selecting medications, consider:

  1. Efficacy for the specific condition - Choose medications with proven benefits for morbidity and mortality
  2. Safety profile - Consider contraindications and potential adverse effects
  3. Patient factors - Age, renal function, hepatic function, and comorbidities
  4. Drug interactions - Check for potential interactions with current medications
  5. Cost and accessibility - Consider insurance coverage and affordability 2, 4

Special Considerations

  • For hypertension: Start with ACE inhibitors/ARBs, calcium channel blockers, or thiazide diuretics based on patient characteristics 1
  • For diabetes: Metformin is first-line, followed by GLP-1 agonists or SGLT2 inhibitors for those with cardiovascular risk 2
  • For pain management: Start with non-opioid options (acetaminophen, NSAIDs) before considering opioids 1
  • For psychiatric conditions: Selection should be based on symptom profile and tolerability 5

This list represents the most commonly prescribed medications across major therapeutic categories, but individual prescribing patterns may vary based on local practices, formulary restrictions, and patient populations.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Guideline

Medication Management in General Practice

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

3
Research

Most common over-the-counter medications and effects on patients.

European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, 2023

4
Research

Choosing the best medications.

American family physician, 1996

5
Research

Questions to ask when selecting medication.

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 2012

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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