Drug Explorer
The medications
A curated launch library, built page by page with references and review dates. Organized by generic name, because brands vary by market and education should not.
Cardiovascular
MetoprololBeta blockersThe workhorse cardioselective beta blocker, in fast and slow clothing.BisoprololBeta blockersThe most beta-1 selective of the common beta blockers, once daily by design.RamiprilACE inhibitorsA long-acting ACE inhibitor with outcome evidence across the cardiovascular spectrum.LosartanAngiotensin receptor blockersThe first ARB: RAAS blockade without the bradykinin baggage.AmlodipineCalcium channel blockersThe slow, smooth dihydropyridine: once daily, forgiving, everywhere.FurosemideLoop diureticsThe loop diuretic: where congestion goes to drain.AtorvastatinStatinsA high-intensity statin that shrugs at the clock.HydrochlorothiazideThiazide diureticsThe thiazide: modest diuresis, durable blood-pressure effect, and a fistful of electrolyte homework.CarvedilolBeta blockersThe beta blocker that also opens arteries, which is why heart failure likes it.AtenololBeta blockersThe water-soluble beta blocker: fewer dreams, more dependence on the kidney.PerindoprilACE inhibitorsA long-acting ACE inhibitor with a genuinely once-daily day.LisinoprilACE inhibitorsThe ACE inhibitor that needs no activation, which matters in liver failure.ValsartanAngiotensin receptor blockersThe ARB that carries the heart-failure and post-infarct evidence.CandesartanAngiotensin receptor blockersThe tightest-binding ARB, and the one with a migraine side-line.DiltiazemCalcium channel blockersThe calcium channel blocker that slows the heart as well as opening the arteries.VerapamilCalcium channel blockersThe most cardiac of the calcium channel blockers, and the most constipating.SpironolactoneMineralocorticoid receptor antagonistsA weak diuretic with a strong survival benefit, and a potassium you must watch.EplerenoneMineralocorticoid receptor antagonistsSpironolactone without the gynecomastia, at a price.IndapamideThiazide diureticsA thiazide-like diuretic that keeps working when the kidney is tired.RosuvastatinStatinsThe most potent statin per milligram, and the one that mostly stays out of CYP3A4.EzetimibeStatinsThe add-on that blocks absorption rather than synthesis.ClopidogrelAntiplatelet agentsA prodrug antiplatelet that some people cannot activate.Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)Antiplatelet agentsOne irreversible acetylation, and the platelet never recovers.Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate)NitratesPreload relief in ninety seconds, and gone in twenty minutes.AmiodaroneAntiarrhythmicsThe most effective antiarrhythmic there is, and the most toxic organ by organ.DigoxinAntiarrhythmicsThe oldest drug on the ward, and still the one that catches people out.
Hematology
WarfarinAnticoagulantsThe vitamin K antagonist: ancient, cheap, measurable, and demanding.ApixabanAnticoagulantsThe direct factor Xa inhibitor that made anticoagulation boring. In a good way.RivaroxabanAnticoagulantsA once-daily factor Xa inhibitor whose dose depends on what you are treating.EnoxaparinAnticoagulantsThe injectable bridge: predictable, weight-based, and kidney-dependent.Ferrous sulfateHematinicsCheap, effective, badly tolerated, and best given every other day.Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)HematinicsReplace it before folate, or the blood improves while the spinal cord does not.Folic acidHematinicsNever given before B12 has been checked.
Endocrine
MetforminDiabetes agentsFirst among diabetes drugs: effective, weight-neutral, and it does not cause hypoglycemia by itself.EmpagliflozinDiabetes agentsThe SGLT2 inhibitor that turned a diabetes drug into heart-failure and kidney therapy.GliclazideSulfonylureasThe sulfonylurea to choose when a sulfonylurea is what you need.Glyburide (glibenclamide)SulfonylureasThe long sulfonylurea that older kidneys cannot clear.SitagliptinIncretin-based agentsA quiet, well-tolerated oral agent that does not cause hypoglycemia.SemaglutideIncretin-based agentsA weekly injection that changed what glucose lowering is expected to achieve.DapagliflozinDiabetes agentsA glucose drug that turned out to be a heart and kidney drug.Insulin glargineInsulinsThe flat background insulin that covers the fasting state.Insulin aspartInsulinsMealtime insulin that acts fast enough to be taken with the food.LevothyroxineThyroid agentsA hormone with a six-week feedback loop and a long list of things that block it.Methimazole (thiamazole)Thyroid agentsBlocks hormone synthesis, and can silently stop the bone marrow.PrednisoneSystemic corticosteroidsThe most useful drug on the ward, and the one that quietly does the most damage.DexamethasoneSystemic corticosteroidsHigh potency, long duration, and almost no mineralocorticoid effect.AlendronateBisphosphonatesSticks to bone, poisons the osteoclast, and demands a very specific half hour.
Psychiatry
SertralineSSRIsA first-line SSRI with a clean interaction profile and a mountain of indications.VenlafaxineSNRIsAn SNRI that is mostly an SSRI at low dose and finds its noradrenaline at higher doses.EscitalopramSSRIsThe cleanest SSRI for interactions, with a dose ceiling set by the QT interval.FluoxetineSSRIsThe SSRI with a half-life so long it tapers itself, and inhibits half the CYP2D6 in the room.DuloxetineSNRIsAn antidepressant that also treats the pain, which is often the reason it is chosen.MirtazapineAtypical antidepressantsSedation and appetite as the point, not the side effect.BupropionAtypical antidepressantsActivating, weight-neutral, no sexual side effects, and it lowers the seizure threshold.QuetiapineAntipsychoticsThree different drugs depending on the dose, and a metabolic bill at all of them.RisperidoneAntipsychoticsThe atypical that behaves like a typical once the dose climbs.HaloperidolAntipsychoticsPure, potent D2 blockade: metabolically clean and neurologically expensive.LorazepamBenzodiazepines and Z-drugsThe benzodiazepine the liver does not have to think about.ZopicloneBenzodiazepines and Z-drugsA hypnotic marketed as safer than a benzodiazepine, on evidence that has not held up.
Anti-infectives
AmoxicillinPenicillinsThe everyday aminopenicillin: reliable gram-positive and respiratory coverage, gentle on almost everyone.CiprofloxacinFluoroquinolonesA gram-negative workhorse whose bill of warnings keeps growing.VancomycinGlycopeptidesThe MRSA glycopeptide whose levels you will be asked about forever.CephalexinCephalosporinsThe oral first-generation workhorse for skin and soft tissue.CeftriaxoneCephalosporinsOnce a day, into the CSF, and hard on the gut flora.Piperacillin-tazobactamPenicillinsThe broad empiric workhorse, and a stewardship problem waiting to be de-escalated.AzithromycinMacrolidesA three-day course that keeps working for a week.ClarithromycinMacrolidesAn effective antibiotic and a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor in the same tablet.DoxycyclineTetracyclinesBroad, oral, kidney-independent, and it must not be taken lying down.Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazoleSulfonamide antibacterialsTwo folate blocks in sequence, and a potassium you must not ignore.MetronidazoleNitroimidazolesOnly works where there is no oxygen, and never with alcohol.NitrofurantoinUrinary antisepticsTreats the urine and nothing else, and needs working kidneys to get there.
Respiratory
SalbutamolInhaled bronchodilatorsThe blue reliever: minutes to onset, hours of bronchodilation, and a usage meter for asthma control.FluticasoneInhaled corticosteroidsThe controller that does nothing today and everything over weeks.TiotropiumInhaled bronchodilatorsA once-daily anticholinergic that keeps COPD patients out of hospital.MontelukastLeukotriene receptor antagonistsA tablet for asthma, with a warning most patients are never given.
Gastrointestinal
OmeprazoleProton pump inhibitorsThe proton pump inhibitor: profound acid suppression, and a deprescribing conversation waiting to happen.PantoprazoleProton pump inhibitorsThe proton pump inhibitor that stays out of other drugs' way.OndansetronAntiemeticsExcellent for the vomiting it fits, useless for the vomiting it does not.MetoclopramideAntiemeticsAn antiemetic that moves the stomach, and can lock up the neck.Polyethylene glycol 3350LaxativesAn inert molecule that holds water and does nothing else.Senna (sennosides)LaxativesThe stimulant that opioid constipation actually needs.LactuloseLaxativesAn osmotic laxative that doubles as an ammonia trap.
Pain & inflammation
IbuprofenNSAIDsThe everyday NSAID, and pharmacy's most instructive over-the-counter risk profile.AcetaminophenSimple analgesicsThe first-line analgesic whose safety is a ceiling, not a property.NaproxenNSAIDsThe long-acting NSAID with the least cardiovascular signal.MorphineOpioidsThe reference opioid, and the one the kidney cannot forgive.HydromorphoneOpioidsMorphine's substitute when the kidneys fail, and five times as strong by mouth.OxycodoneOpioidsReliable oral absorption, and a combination product that hides a second drug.CodeineOpioidsA prodrug whose effect depends on an enzyme nobody has measured.TramadolOpioidsPart opioid, part antidepressant, and it lowers the seizure threshold.AllopurinolGout agentsLowers urate over months, and does nothing for the attack in front of you.ColchicineGout agentsWorks if you start it early, and poisons you if the kidneys and CYP3A4 are against you.MethotrexateConventional DMARDsWeekly. The single most important word about this drug.HydroxychloroquineConventional DMARDsThe gentlest DMARD, with a toxicity that only shows up in the eye.
Neurology
GabapentinGabapentinoidsNamed after GABA, and it does not touch it.LevetiracetamAntiseizure medicationsNo interactions, no levels, and sometimes a personality change.PhenytoinAntiseizure medicationsThe drug where dose and concentration stop being proportional.Valproate (valproic acid, divalproex)Antiseizure medicationsBroad-spectrum, highly effective, and the most teratogenic drug in common use.CarbamazepineAntiseizure medicationsInduces its own metabolism, and everyone else's.
Genitourinary
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