List of Commonly Prescribed Systemic Medications You Encounter

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Optogal

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Hi folks

I was wondering if we could compile a simple list of the most common systemic meds, name & function. I tried doing this with some colleagues but everyone just seemed to habitually write down what the med is "for", rather than the actual name - and really couldn't name any. I'll start with a few:

Atenolol : anti-hypertension
Diazepam: anti-anxiety
Lipitor : lower cholesterol
Plaquenil : anti-rheumatoid arthritis
Amiodarone : heart arrhythmias
Metformin : DM
Glyburide : DM

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Flonase : Asthma
Symbicort : Asthma, COPD
 
Just go to RxList, Epocrates, etc & you can display the most commonly prescribed meds.
 
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That's exactly what I'm looking for. I thought there'd be some kind of online database.

Thanks!
 
Hi folks

I was wondering if we could compile a simple list of the most common systemic meds, name & function. I tried doing this with some colleagues but everyone just seemed to habitually write down what the med is "for", rather than the actual name - and really couldn't name any. I'll start with a few:

Atenolol : anti-hypertension
Diazepam: anti-anxiety
Lipitor : lower cholesterol
Plaquenil : anti-rheumatoid arthritis
Amiodarone : heart arrhythmias
Metformin : DM
Glyburide : DM

HA! My favorite list of the looney meds (in no particular order):

Cymbalta, Paxil, Lexapro, Abilify, Seroquel, Wellbutrin

And any other funny looking fancy names :eek:
 
Propanolol: BP
Lithium: Psych
Valium: Anti-anxiety
Isoretin: Psoriasis, Acne
Risperidol: Psych
Dopamine: Parkinsons
Gabapentin: Pain
Vancomycin: Antibiotic
Azythromycin: Antibiotic
Isoniazid: Antitubercular
Streptomycin: Antitubercular
Ethambutol: Antitubercular
Colchicine: Gout
AZT: AIDS
 
Propanolol: BP
Lithium: Psych
Valium: Anti-anxiety
Isoretin: Psoriasis, Acne
Risperidol: Psych
Dopamine: Parkinsons
Gabapentin: Pain
Vancomycin: Antibiotic
Azythromycin: Antibiotic
Isoniazid: Antitubercular
Streptomycin: Antitubercular
Ethambutol: Antitubercular
Colchicine: Gout
AZT: AIDS
Why would you see someone on a non-selective BB? Why would they not be on HAART and just AZT?
 
Why would you see someone on a non-selective BB? Why would they not be on HAART and just AZT?

Fair points. I have yet to see an HIV+ patient actually on AZT. Usually they are on a combination pill regimen like Atripla which is a once a day pill with 2 NRTIs and 1 NNRTI. The most common usage of propranolol I've seen is migraine prophylaxis.
 
Isoretin: Psoriasis, Acne

Isoretin doesn't exist. Tretinoin (Retin-A) and Isotretinoin (Accutane) do.

Dopamine: Parkinsons

You don't give Parkinsons patients straight dopamine. Dopamine doesn't cross the blood-brain-barrier, so it wouldn't do a Parkinsons patient any good. You give them Carbidopa-Levodopa (usually referred to by its brand name, Sinemet), which are dopamine precursors.

Otherwise, we usually only use dopamine as a pressor in the ICU setting. Not something you'd typically see in a patient strolling into the optometrist's office.

Vancomycin: Antibiotic

Vanc is rarely, if ever, used outside of a hospital. It is almost never used in its oral form, and is usually reserved for extremely sick people.

Streptomycin: Antitubercular

Streptomycin is rarely used for TB anymore.

AZT: AIDS

The only time you ever see people on straight AZT is when a pregnant, HIV+, woman is about to deliver. It decreases transmission of the HIV virus to the baby. Otherwise, for outpatient treatment, it is rare to see people on AZT alone - it is usually part of combination therapy.
 
Isoretin doesn't exist. Tretinoin (Retin-A) and Isotretinoin (Accutane) do.



You don't give Parkinsons patients straight dopamine. Dopamine doesn't cross the blood-brain-barrier, so it wouldn't do a Parkinsons patient any good. You give them Carbidopa-Levodopa (usually referred to by its brand name, Sinemet), which are dopamine precursors.

Otherwise, we usually only use dopamine as a pressor in the ICU setting. Not something you'd typically see in a patient strolling into the optometrist's office.



Vanc is rarely, if ever, used outside of a hospital. It is almost never used in its oral form, and is usually reserved for extremely sick people.



Streptomycin is rarely used for TB anymore.



The only time you ever see people on straight AZT is when a pregnant, HIV+, woman is about to deliver. It decreases transmission of the HIV virus to the baby. Otherwise, for outpatient treatment, it is rare to see people on AZT alone - it is usually part of combination therapy.

A few things it was a list of drugs that you would often see Rx'd. AZT is commonly used on PTs with HIV, I didn't feel like writing out the whole list of drugs used for HAART.

Streptomycin, ethambutol and other second line agents are making a comeback due to MDR-TB, 10% of all strains are INH resistant and 4% are resistant to rifampin.

Vanco is used often enough in the hospital setting it was worth mention

I meant acitretin not isoretin, I don't know how I made that mistake, brand name soriatane which is a second generation retinoid.
 
Why would you see someone on a non-selective BB? Why would they not be on HAART and just AZT?

The OP asked about drugs they would see in practice, I didn't have the time to list every BB, antiretroviral etc. If you look in this thread people are just listing random meds you may run into in practice.
 
A few things it was a list of drugs that you would often see Rx'd. AZT is commonly used on PTs with HIV, I didn't feel like writing out the whole list of drugs used for HAART.

While yes, AZT is commonly used, it is usually not prescribed by itself. It more frequently comes in pre-made combo drugs (ex: Combivir). The likelihood of a typical outpatient optometrist seeing someone coming in on plain AZT is unlikely. Most patients do not know the individual drugs that go into their combo drugs; it would have been of better benefit for the OP if you were able to provide brand names (Atripla, Combivir, Kaletra, etc.)

Streptomycin, ethambutol and other second line agents are making a comeback due to MDR-TB, 10% of all strains are INH resistant and 4% are resistant to rifampin.

Vanco is used often enough in the hospital setting it was worth mention

That may be, but why would you rather use streptomycin for TB, even MDR-TB, over amikacin, which has less ototoxicity and is more widely available?

Seeing as most optometrists practice in mostly an outpatient setting, and not in the hospital setting, it would make little to no sense to explain to them about vancomycin. I hope I never see the day where patients are routinely put on vanc as an outpatient.
 
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While yes, AZT is commonly used, it is usually not prescribed by itself. It more frequently comes in pre-made combo drugs (ex: Combivir). The likelihood of a typical outpatient optometrist seeing someone coming in on plain AZT is unlikely. Most patients do not know the individual drugs that go into their combo drugs; it would have been of better benefit for the OP if you were able to provide brand names (Atripla, Combivir, Kaletra, etc.)



That may be, but why would you rather use streptomycin for TB, even MDR-TB, over amikacin, which has less ototoxicity and is more widely available?

Seeing as most optometrists practice in mostly an outpatient setting, and not in the hospital setting, it would make little to no sense to explain to them about vancomycin. I hope I never see the day where patients are routinely put on vanc as an outpatient.

I mention these drugs as a lot of ODs are VA. Also they should have exposure to all sorts of drugs, not just those see in outpatients.
 
I mention these drugs as a lot of ODs are VA. Also they should have exposure to all sorts of drugs, not just those see in outpatients.

That's fine, except the ones that you chose just seem odd, not commonly used, and it would seem weird that you would choose to list vanco, instead of, say, augmentin, clinda, macrobid, cipro, etc. Or that you would choose to list AZT, which is not the "go to" drug for HIV/AIDS anymore. Not to mention that many of the indications that you mention are either incorrect or not fully correct.
 
Melton & Thomas had this little sidebar in one of their drug guides, which may help put some of this into context.
 

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Isoretin doesn't exist. Tretinoin (Retin-A) and Isotretinoin (Accutane) do.



You don't give Parkinsons patients straight dopamine. Dopamine doesn't cross the blood-brain-barrier, so it wouldn't do a Parkinsons patient any good. You give them Carbidopa-Levodopa (usually referred to by its brand name, Sinemet), which are dopamine precursors.

Otherwise, we usually only use dopamine as a pressor in the ICU setting. Not something you'd typically see in a patient strolling into the optometrist's office.



Vanc is rarely, if ever, used outside of a hospital. It is almost never used in its oral form, and is usually reserved for extremely sick people.



Streptomycin is rarely used for TB anymore.



The only time you ever see people on straight AZT is when a pregnant, HIV+, woman is about to deliver. It decreases transmission of the HIV virus to the baby. Otherwise, for outpatient treatment, it is rare to see people on AZT alone - it is usually part of combination therapy.

Agree with the dopamine part. This is the same for Vanco. Its oral form is only used for C. Diff... since Vanco as a molecule is too big for absorption. Even then, I would go for flagyl first...
 
HA! My favorite list of the looney meds (in no particular order):

Cymbalta, Paxil, Lexapro, Abilify, Seroquel, Wellbutrin

And any other funny looking fancy names :eek:

Looney is such a werid word to describe half the meds there... anti depressants =/= psychotic..
 
I thought OD schools teach high level pharmacology? Or is the OP just weak in this subject?

Every single drug mentioned so far is a no-brainer for most upper level med students/interns/residents.
 
I thought OD schools teach high level pharmacology? Or is the OP just weak in this subject?

Every single drug mentioned so far is a no-brainer for most upper level med students/interns/residents.

Eh, I think its likely a "if you don't use it you lose it" kind of thing. I'm already behind on some of the subspecialty specific drugs and I'd bet that's going to get worse the longer I'm out.
 
Looney is such a werid word to describe half the meds there... anti depressants =/= psychotic..

Sorry. How about psycho meds? I think I'm just still in shock how many people I see coming in on these meds. Its as common as a pack of gum :scared:


I thought OD schools teach high level pharmacology? Or is the OP just weak in this subject?

Every single drug mentioned so far is a no-brainer for most upper level med students/interns/residents.

Let me guess, you're a walking PDA/Epocrates and know these meds in and out? Since I've graduated they have so many new drugs out that it would be impossible to know the function and difference of every last one. What is important to the Optometrist is do the meds they take have any possible ocular manifestations and what systemic condition it is treating.
 
I thought OD schools teach high level pharmacology? Or is the OP just weak in this subject?

Every single drug mentioned so far is a no-brainer for most upper level med students/interns/residents.

Well, same with OD students.

I'm not an OD student anymore. There's a difference. My colleagues couldn't come up with a list, and we've only been out a few years. Patients don't name their drugs - they just say what they're for.

Do you think any family docs can name any eye medications?
 
Well, same with OD students.

I'm not an OD student anymore. There's a difference. My colleagues couldn't come up with a list, and we've only been out a few years. Patients don't name their drugs - they just say what they're for.

Do you think any family docs can name any eye medications?

I would presume they could name a few Combigan, Lumigan, Timolol, Patanol, Restasis are all common knowledge. It depends on the FP, they could probably name a lot of topical steroids, antibiotics, tears, glaucoma meds and allergy meds. FPs are trained to have knowledge a mile wide and an inch deep, for specialists it's an inch wide and a mile deep.
 
HA! My favorite list of the looney meds (in no particular order):

Cymbalta, Paxil, Lexapro, Abilify, Seroquel, Wellbutrin

And any other funny looking fancy names :eek:

All of those except Abilify and Seroquel are anti-depressants which are hardly "looney" meds. Of note, abilify is often added for treatment-resistant depression while seroquel is used as a sleep aid. I would have my doubts that you'd see anyone on anti-psychotics used for that purpose in an outpatient eye clinic.

BTW, I love your compassion here.
 
I would presume they could name a few Combigan, Lumigan, Timolol, Patanol, Restasis are all common knowledge. It depends on the FP, they could probably name a lot of topical steroids, antibiotics, tears, glaucoma meds and allergy meds. FPs are trained to have knowledge a mile wide and an inch deep, for specialists it's an inch wide and a mile deep.

Uhh, I highly doubt that....especially when I get many a red eye consults from varying FPs that are being treated with their workhorse drug of choice: Sulfa topicals! :idea:

....BTW, I love your compassion here.

Just keeping it real. I personally think they are all over-prescribed by our compassionate MDs anyhow.
 
I would presume they could name a few Combigan, Lumigan, Timolol, Patanol, Restasis are all common knowledge. It depends on the FP, they could probably name a lot of topical steroids, antibiotics, tears, glaucoma meds and allergy meds. FPs are trained to have knowledge a mile wide and an inch deep, for specialists it's an inch wide and a mile deep.

Perhaps. But wait until you are practicing before you make those remarks.

The only drug GPs ever prescribe is gentamycin for red eye, even if the red eye needs to be treated with steroids, antihistamines (Patanol) or glaucoma meds (Combigan, Lumigan, Timolol).
 
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Do you think any family docs can name any eye medications?

Um...yeah. We can. :rolleyes:

Your post mentions that FPs don't prescribe Timolol, Combigan or Lumigan for glaucoma. You want FPs to prescribe glaucoma medications when we don't even have the instruments to diagnose glaucoma? In our office, all we have are direct ophthalmoscopes and an eye chart hanging up on the wall. We have no way of measuring intraocular eye pressure.

But you want people to prescribe medications for a condition that they can't even confirm that a patient has?

Furthermore, PCPs (including FPs) are strongly discouraged from prescribing steroids for eye conditions. It is usually recommended that those be prescribed by an ophthalmologist.

Please don't denigrate an entire field of medicine for practicing reasonable medical care. But I guess we all need someone to look down on.

[/rant]

Personally, I don't care if you can't name a bunch of commonly used meds. You're optometrists, why does it matter if you don't know that Norvasc is used for blood pressure control?
 
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Your post mentions that FPs don't prescribe Timolol, Combigan or Lumigan for glaucoma.

The post I replied to mentions Timolol, Combigan and Lumigan. Don't you think it's ironic that these three meds are given as examples of meds being "known" to GPs, yet they are almost never appropriately prescribed by them?

Hey I'm not trying to denigrate anything. Look at the initial post. I'm trying to create a useful thread - sorry if this effort is causing some folks to reveal their cynical natures.

If folks want to come and denigrate the thread, I guess they are free to do that - but they can also expect some replies. Otherwise, please feel free to start your own editorial thread discussing why the content of this thread should not be discussed.
 
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The post I replied to mentions Timolol, Combigan and Lumigan. Don't you think it's ironic that these three meds are given as examples of meds being "known" to GPs, yet they are almost never appropriately prescribed by them?

<sigh> It's like you didn't read my post at all.

It is concerning to me that you are, basically, disparaging FPs who don't prescribe these meds when they are not equipped to correctly diagnose the conditions that they are designed to treat.

I don't say to patients "Gee, I think you have high cholesterol, but I'll start you on Lipitor and not bother to get a blood test to confirm that." But yet, by your standard, it's okay to say "Gee, I think you have glaucoma, but rather than send you to an ophthalmologist to confirm that, I'll just give you some Lumigan drops." Let me give you a hint - this is *not* considered "appropriately prescribing" medications.

I *know* what Lumigan, Combigan, and Timolol drops are designed for. But for some reason, your posts infer that the only way that you can demonstrate that you know what a medication is designed for is if you prescribe it yourself. And that's not the case. I have patients who come in on all sorts of medications that were prescribed to them by specialists; I know what they do, even though I didn't prescribe them.

Hey I'm not trying to denigrate anything. Look at the initial post. I'm trying to create a useful thread - sorry if this effort is causing some folks to reveal their cynical natures.

The person who questioned whether or not optometrists learn these medications in OD school is an ophthalmology resident. I, personally, thought that this thread was a good idea...at least until you made a comment about FPs not appropriately prescribing medications. What I'm trying to make you understand is that an FP prescribing glaucoma medications when they CANNOT ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE GLAUCOMA IN THEIR OFFICE is actually a really really bad idea.

If folks want to come and denigrate the thread, I guess they are free to do that - but they can also expect some replies. Otherwise, please feel free to start your own editorial thread discussing why the content of this thread should not be discussed.

I AM NOT saying that the content of this thread should not be discussed! It's really like you didn't read my post at all.
 
You're missing the point. If you're going to diss optoms for not knowing systemic meds, then come up with examples of eye meds that GPs actually prescribe correctly.

Anyways, I got wanted from this thread. Ciao.
 
If you're going to diss optoms for not knowing systemic meds, then come up with examples of eye meds that GPs actually prescribe correctly.

And my point was that:

a) I never "dissed" optometrists for not knowing systemic meds, and

b) Not prescribing eye meds AT ALL is actually "prescribing them correctly." Like I said, if I have no way of confirming the diagnosis, then I, as the FP, am not going to prescribe it. I will send them to ophtho who CAN diagnose them, and they will prescribe it. But not prescribing them doesn't mean that I don't know what they're used for. I learned what they were used for back in MS2 pharm.
 
Perhaps. But wait until you are practicing before you make those remarks.

The only drug GPs ever prescribe is gentamycin for red eye, even if the red eye needs to be treated with steroids, antihistamines (Patanol) or glaucoma meds (Combigan, Lumigan, Timolol).

I said that a PCP would know these, not that they would right for them. I hope you know metaformin, even though you may not be able to right for it. As SMQ123 so succinctly pointed out PCPs can't monitor glaucoma and aren't eye experts. Just like ODs as long as they punt the case when they can't handle it or don't know what they're seeing it's fine. I've yet to see a PCP with an indirect, slit lamp or the ability to test vision other than a Snellen. It's a good thing that they punt these cases. It would be worse if someone who was out of there depth tried to manage this be it an OD or PCP.
 
All of those except Abilify and Seroquel are anti-depressants which are hardly "looney" meds. Of note, abilify is often added for treatment-resistant depression while seroquel is used as a sleep aid. I would have my doubts that you'd see anyone on anti-psychotics used for that purpose in an outpatient eye clinic.

BTW, I love your compassion here.

You're fairly likely to see someone on lithium, risperidal, geodon and perhaps even haldol. Bipolar has a prevalence of about 1% and schizophrenia of .4-.6% so and OD is likely to run into psychiatric meds occasionally.
 
Uhh, I highly doubt that....especially when I get many a red eye consults from varying FPs that are being treated with their workhorse drug of choice: Sulfa topicals! :idea:



Just keeping it real. I personally think they are all over-prescribed by our compassionate MDs anyhow.

Yeah, I've always found the use of sulfa topicals to be a bit strange. That being said, the general rule that I've always been told is to give a topical (I like Vigamox/Zymar myself) and have the patient f/u with their/an eye doc if not better in about 24/36 hours as usually a true bacterial infection will respond very quickly.

Whether or not you think we over prescribe depression meds (if you go by the DSM, I don't think we really do except for perhaps adjustment disorder), its not fair to call the patients on them "loony".
 
You're fairly likely to see someone on lithium, risperidal, geodon and perhaps even haldol. Bipolar has a prevalence of about 1% and schizophrenia of .4-.6% so and OD is likely to run into psychiatric meds occasionally.

Most schizophrenics will have mental health case workers, assuming they're not in a mental health facility to begin with. From my experience, this means they'll either involve inpatient MD care or use outpatient ophthalmologists since they have more experience with psych than ODs do.

So its possibly, but I find it pretty unlikely.
 
a) I never "dissed" optometrists for not knowing systemic meds,

Not you personally, but there are some folks in this thread who have expressed concerns that this thread suggests deficiencies about optometric knowledge of systemic meds.

b) Not prescribing eye meds AT ALL is actually "prescribing them correctly."

Personally, I wouldn't use the word "correct" to characterize a medical practitioner who prescribes gentamycin for closed-angle glaucoma regardless of his (lack of) training and diagnostic equipment. But you are indeed free to spin things to your liking.

Hey - like you said, I'm not here to dispute that FPs don't have the knowledge/equipment to diagnose eye disease. But the argument went:
-ODs don't know systemic meds,
-well GPs don't know eye meds,
-yes they do they know Lumigan/Combigan etc.,
-they never prescribe them correctly,
-its because we don't have the training/equipment.

Fine. No argument there.
 
Not you personally, but there are some folks in this thread who have expressed concerns that this thread suggests deficiencies about optometric knowledge of systemic meds.



Personally, I wouldn't use the word "correct" to characterize a medical practitioner who prescribes gentamycin for closed-angle glaucoma regardless of his (lack of) training and diagnostic equipment. But you are indeed free to spin things to your liking.

Hey - like you said, I'm not here to dispute that FPs don't have the knowledge/equipment to diagnose eye disease. But the argument went:
-ODs don't know systemic meds,
-well GPs don't know eye meds,
-yes they do they know Lumigan/Combigan etc.,
-they never prescribe them correctly,
-its because we don't have the training/equipment.

Fine. No argument there.

I would hope that you wouldn't actually see any MD other than an ophtho prescribing any glaucoma meds for that purpose.
 
OK. Here's a list. I'm not guaranteeing its accuracy or whatever, but have a look if you are interested.

Disclaimer: I'm not here to defend what should or should not be included on this list, nor what some folks may believe is implied by me creating this list regarding optometrists, optometric knowledge and optometric training.

Amiodarone arrhythmia
Chloroquine antimalarial
Phenothiazine antipsychotic
Indomethacin NSAID
Hydrocodone analgesic
Lisinopril hypertension
Simvastatin chloesterol
Levothyyroine thyroid disorder
Lipitor cholesterol
Azithromycin antibiotic
Hydrochlorothiazide hypertension
Furosemide diuretic
Atenolol hypertension
Diazepam anxiety
Symbicort asthma/copd
Flonase allergic rhinitis
Paxil antidepressant
Wellbutrin antidepressant
Propanolol hypertension
Valium anxiety
Isoretin acne
Gabapontin epilepsy
Isoniazid tuberculosis
Accutane acne
Advair asthma/COPD
Altace hypertension
Augmentin comb antibiotic
Benadryl allergy
Celebrex arthritis
Cialis erectile dysfunction
Coumadin anticoagulant
Crestor cholesterol
Diovan hypertension
Fosamax osteoporosis
Gardasil human papillomavirus
Lopressor hypretension
Norvasc hypertension
Nystatin antifungal
Oxycontin analgesic
Percocet pain reliever
Prevacid gastric acid
Prozac depression
Remicade autoimmune disorder
Ritalin ADHD
Synthroid thyroid disorder
Valium anxiety
Zantac stomach acid
Zocor cholesterol
Zovirax antiviral
Zyrtec antihistamine
 
There are a few things in the list that are inaccurate. In case anyone is interested, there are a few corrections, partly because my inner med school nerd won't stay quiet. :laugh: In the interest of cooperation, I've also added brand names, since patients rarely remember the generic name and the brand names may be more useful.

Amiodarone arrhythmia [Brand name: Cordarone]
Chloroquine antimalarial
Phenothiazine antipsychotic [Almost never used - its most famous derivative, thorazine, had some nasty nasty side effects]
Indomethacin NSAID [Brand name: Indocin]
Hydrocodone analgesic [Brand name: Vicodin, Lortab]
Lisinopril hypertension
Simvastatin chloesterol [Brand name: Zocor]
Levothyroxine thyroid disorder [Brand name: Levoxyl, Synthroid]
Lipitor cholesterol
Azithromycin antibiotic [Brand name: Zithromax, Z-pak]
Hydrochlorothiazide hypertension [HCTZ is also a diuretic]
Furosemide diuretic [Brand name: Lasix]
Atenolol hypertension [Brand name: Tenormin]
Diazepam anxiety [Brand name: Valium]
Symbicort asthma/copd
Flonase allergic rhinitis
Paxil antidepressant
Wellbutrin antidepressant
Propanolol hypertension
Valium anxiety
Isoretin acne [Isoretin doesn't exist. Tretinoin (Retin-A) and Isotretinoin (Accutane) are used for acne.]
Gabapentin epilepsy [Brand name: Neurontin] [Gabapentin is also being used a lot for nerve-related pain.]
Isoniazid tuberculosis
Accutane acne
Advair asthma/COPD
Altace hypertension
Augmentin comb antibiotic
Benadryl allergy
Celebrex arthritis
Cialis erectile dysfunction
Coumadin anticoagulant
Crestor cholesterol
Diovan hypertension
Fosamax osteoporosis
Gardasil human papillomavirus [Gardasil is not a medication; it is a vaccine.]
Lopressor hypretension
Norvasc hypertension
Nystatin antifungal
Oxycontin analgesic
Percocet pain reliever
Prevacid gastric acid
Prozac depression
Remicade autoimmune disorder
Ritalin ADHD
Synthroid thyroid disorder
Valium anxiety
Zantac stomach acid
Zocor cholesterol
Zovirax antiviral
Zyrtec antihistamine
 
Randomly listing medications is a gigantic waste of time. There are 100's of medications out there that patients take. Let's get real here. If you're going to make a list it needs to be categorized.

How about learning a thing or two about them so that they MAKE SENSE and you can UNDERSTAND their MOA, SE profile, indications, etc. If not specifics of each, at least learn the broad categories. What were you planning on doing, memorizing this random list? :laugh:

And if you're still having trouble, get this little book:

http://www.amazon.com/Tarascon-Pock...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277701126&sr=8-1
 
There are a few things in the list that are inaccurate. In case anyone is interested, there are a few corrections, partly because my inner med school nerd won't stay quiet. :laugh: In the interest of cooperation, I've also added brand names, since patients rarely remember the generic name and the brand names may be more useful.

Also add sildenafil or whatever PED-5 inhibitor is on the VA hospital formulary this year :D

Was I compassionate that time? :confused:
 
>Randomly listing medications is a gigantic waste of time.

The purpose for knowing the names of the systemic meds, is that if a patient says I'm on so-and-so, I don't have to ask them, "What is that for?", I can instead say, "You take that for hypertension right?"

That's it.
 
Ever notice how a lot of patients seem not to consider birth control as medication?

Me: Are you taking any medications at this time?
Patient (before I'm done asking): No
Me: Any birth control?
Patient: Oh yeah, birth control pills.
 
Also add sildenafil or whatever PED-5 inhibitor is on the VA hospital formulary this year :D

I had a patient call the office and demand an immediate refill on his Levitra. He said it was an "emergency." I was very tempted to tell him that a hot date is not a medical emergency.

Ever notice how a lot of patients seem not to consider birth control as medication?

Me: Are you taking any medications at this time?
Patient (before I'm done asking): No
Me: Any birth control?
Patient: Oh yeah, birth control pills.

You should also ask about herbal medications and OTC vitamins/supplements. Some of the body building supplements, for example, can really screw up your liver.
 
Basically if it's a control, it's more than likely a top-seller. Just look at a list of controlled substances and I can almost guaranteed you it is one of the more widely distributed drugs...
I only say this because I work as a Pharmacy Tech (about to go to Optometry School) and we have a "fast mover" shelf and at least half the medications we fill for patients come from this area. As I mentioned, more than a handful of them are medications that can be abused.
 
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