U.S. prescribing snapshot · Educational use only
Top commonly prescribed medications by therapeutic category in the U.S.
A quick-glance overview of widely used prescription and over-the-counter medications in key categories. This is not a complete list and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Antibiotics
Antirviral
Breathing
Seizure disorders
Stomach Acid
Inflammation
Anticoagulants
Cholesterol (statins)
Diuretics
Pain
Insomnia
Diabetes
Muscle relaxants
Antidepressants
Blood pressure
Stomach Acid
Thyroid
Antibiotics
Most Common AntimicrobialUsed to inhibit the growth or destroys microorganisms causing infections.
- Amoxicillin Broad use · ear, sinus, throat infections
- Azithromycin Z-Pak · respiratory infections
- Ciprofloxacin UTIs · bacterial infections
- Doxycycline Skin, respiratory infections · versatile
- Cephalexin Keflex · skin & soft tissue infections
- Clavulanate Broad use · ear, sinus, throat infections
- Clindamycin Skin and soft tissue infections
- Erythromycin Macrolide antibiotic
- Penicillin Broad spectrum antibiotic
- Sulfamethoxazole Bactrim · Often combined with trimethoprim
Antiviral
Most Common AntiviralUsed to treat influenza, COVID, HIV and other infections caused by viruses.
- Biktarvy Biktarvy · HIV treatment
- Epclusa Epclusa · Hepatitis C treatment
- Truvada Truvada · HIV prevention
- Dovato Dovato · HIV treatment
- Tamiflu Treats and prevents influenza infections
- Acyclovir Zovirax · herpes virus infections
- Valacyclovir Valtrex · shingles, cold sores and herpes virus infections
- Nirmatrelvir Paxlovid · COVID-19 treatment
Breathing (Respiratory)
Most Common Asthma & COPDUsed to manage asthma, COPD, emphysema and other respiratory conditions.
- Umeclidinium and Vilanterol Anoro Ellipta · Long-acting bronchodilator
- Albuterol Proventin, Ventolin · Rescue inhaler, asthma & COPD
- Fluticasone Inhaled steroid · inflammation control
- Montelukast Singulair · asthma/allergy prevention
- Budesonide/Formoterol Symbicort · maintenance therapy
- Tiotropium Spiriva · COPD control
- Mometasone Asmanex · inhaled steroid
- Fluticasone/Salmeterol Advair · long-term asthma/COPD
- Formoterol Long-acting bronchodilator
Seizure Disorders
Most Common AntiepilepticMedications used to control and prevent seizures in various types of epilepsy and seizure disorders.
- Levetiracetam Keppra · broad seizure control
- Lamotrigine Lamictal · seizures & bipolar disorder
- Valproic Acid / Divalproex Depakote · multiple seizure types
- Topiramate Topamax · seizures & migraine prevention
- Carbamazepine Tegretol · focal seizures
- Gabapentin Neurontin · nerve pain & partial seizures
Stomach Acid (GI)
Most Common Acid reducersMedications used to reduce stomach acid and treat conditions like GERD and ulcers.
- Omeprazole Prilosec · GERD & acid reflux
- Pantoprazole Protonix · gastric protection
- Famotidine Pepcid · H2 blocker
- Lansoprazole Prevacid · long-term acid suppression
- Esomeprazole Nexium · GERD treatment
Inflammation
Most Common Anti-inflammatoryMedications used to reduce inflammation and manage related conditions.
- Prednisone Systemic steroid · many inflammatory conditions
- Methylprednisolone Medrol Dosepak · short course therapy
- Naproxen Aleve · anti-inflammatory
- Ibuprofen Motrin · NSAID · pain + inflammation
- Diclofenac Voltaren · arthritis & joint pain
- Celecoxib Celebrex · COX-2 inhibitor
- Dexamethasone Decadron · potent steroid
Anticoagulants
Most Common Blood thinnersUsed to prevent blood clots, reduce the risk of stroke and other clot-related conditions.
- Warfarin Long-term prevention · INR monitoring required
- Apixaban Eliquis · stroke prevention
- Rivaroxaban Xarelto · DVT/PE treatment
- Dabigatran Pradaxa · direct thrombin inhibitor
- Heparin Hospital use · rapid anticoagulation
- Clopidogrel Plavix · antiplatelet
Cholesterol (Statins)
Most Common Lipid-loweringUsed to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk and stroke.
- Atorvastatin Lipitor · high LDL reduction
- Lovastatin Older statin, widely used
- Pravastatin Low interactions
- Rosuvastatin Crestor · high potency
- Simvastatin Zocor · long-term use
Diuretics
Most Common Fluid / BP controlUsed for hypertension, heart failure, and edema.
- Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) First-line for BP
- Furosemide Lasix · fluid control
- Spironolactone K-sparing
- Chlorthalidone Long-acting thiazide
- Bumetanide Powerful loop diuretic
Pain Medications
Most Common AnalgesicsUsed for mild to severe acute and chronic pain.
- Acetaminophen Tylenol · pain + fever
- Codeine Opioid . pain relief/cough reducer
- Ibuprofen Advil · inflammation
- Acetaminophen-Butalbital-Caffeine Fioricet, Repan · tension headaches
- Naproxen Aleve · longer-acting NSAID
- Hydrocodone / APAP Opioid combo . Vicodin, Norco
- Oxycodone / APAP Moderate-severe pain
- TramadolOpioid . Adult pain relief
- MeloxicamNSAID for arthritis
Insomnia
Most Common Sleep aidUsed to treat insomnia and improve sleep quality.
- Ramelteon Rozerem · melatonin receptor agonist
- Temazepam Restoril · benzodiazepine
- Daridorexant Quviviq · orexin receptor antagonist
- Eszopiclone Lunesta · non-benzodiazepine hypnotic
- Suvorexant Belsomra · orexin receptor antagonist
- Zolpidem Ambien · non-benzodiazepine hypnotic
Diabetes
Most Common Blood sugar controlMedications used to manage blood glucose levels in diabetes.
- Insulin lispro Admelog, Humalog · rapid-acting insulin
- Humulin Short-acting insulin
- Novolin Short-acting insulin
- Metformin First-line · type 2 diabetes
- Glipizide Improves insulin release
- Sitagliptin Januvia · DPP-4 inhibitor
- Insulin Glargine Basaglar, Lantus, Toujeo · long-acting insulin
- Empagliflozin Jardiance · SGLT2 inhibitor
Muscle Relaxants
Most Common Spasm reliefUsed for acute muscle spasm and certain spasticity conditions.
- Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril · spasms
- Methocarbamol Robaxin · acute injury
- Tizanidine Zanaflex · spasticity
- Baclofen Neurologic spasticity
- Carisoprodol Soma · short-term use
Antidepressants
Most Common Mood disordersUsed for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
- Sertraline Zoloft · very common SSRI
- Fluoxetine Prozac
- Escitalopram Lexapro . Common first-line SSRI
- Citalopram Celexa
- Duloxetine Cymbalta · Used for depression and certain pain syndromes
- Diazepam Valium . Anxiety & alcohol withdrawal
- Alprazolam Xanax · Anxiety
- Bupropion Wellbutrin · Depression
- Aripiprazole Abilify · Mood disorders
- Cariprazine Vraylar · Mood disorders
- Hydroxyzine Vistaril · Anxiety & itching
- Rexulti Rexulti · Mood disorders
- Quetiapine Seroquel · Mood disorders
- Trazodone Desyrel · Mood disorders
Blood Pressure
Most Common AntihypertensivesUsed to treat hypertension and reduce cardiovascular risk.
- Lisinopril Zestril · ACE inhibitor
- Losartan ARB
- Clonidine Catapres · Hypertension and ADHD
- Hydralazine Apresoline · Vasodilator
- Amlodipine Norvasc · Calcium channel blocker
- Hydrochlorothiazide Thiazide diuretic
- Metoprolol Toprol · Beta-blocker
- Carvedilol Coreg · Beta-blocker
- Diltiazem Cardizem · Calcium channel blocker
- Nifedipine Procardia . Calcium channel blocker
- Propranolol Inderal · Beta-blocker
- Ramipril Beta-blocker
- Valsartan Diovan · ARB
Thyroid Disorders
Most Common Thyroid hormonesMedications used to manage hypo/hyper thyroidism.
- Levothyroxine Synthroid · Hypothyroidism, T4 replacement
- Liothyronine Cytomel · T3 hormone
- Methimazole Hyperthyroidism treatment
- Propylthiouracil (PTU) Thyroid suppression · Graves' disease
- Armour Thyroid Natural desiccated thyroid