By Siri Pharm D | Prepared for PharmDecoded
Learning drug names is easier when each name connects to a class, a use, and a reason the medicine works. Start with these 20 examples, then practice explaining each one without looking at your notes.
This guide is for pharmacy technician study. It is a selected learning list, not an official PTCB medication list or a prescription-volume ranking. Brand names are U.S. examples, including familiar study names; market availability and formulations can change. Uses and adverse effects below are selected, not complete. This is not dosing or patient-specific treatment advice. Refer clinical questions to the pharmacist.
Shop disclosure: The 200-Drug Study Diary on Etsy is our paid digital product, sold by DailyLotusPrints. You can use this free article independently; the diary is an optional study companion.
How to study these drugs
For each medicine, answer six questions: What is the generic name? Which brand belongs to it? What class is it in? How does it work? What is it used for? Which side effects and safety concerns should I recognize?
MOA means mechanism of action: how a drug produces its effects. The explanations here are simplified. Learning an MOA helps you remember the class rather than memorizing a disconnected brand-name pair.
Quick brand and generic review
| Generic | Brand examples | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin | Lipitor | Statin |
| Lisinopril | Zestril, Prinivil | ACE inhibitor |
| Losartan | Cozaar | Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) |
| Amlodipine | Norvasc | Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker |
| Metoprolol | Lopressor (tartrate, immediate release); Toprol-XL (succinate, extended release) | Beta blocker |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Microzide (brand example; availability varies) | Thiazide diuretic |
| Furosemide | Lasix | Loop diuretic |
| Metformin | Glucophage (familiar brand example; availability varies by product) | Biguanide |
| Glipizide | Glucotrol XL (extended release) | Sulfonylurea |
| Levothyroxine | Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint | Thyroid hormone replacement |
| Omeprazole | Prilosec | Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) |
| Famotidine | Pepcid | Histamine H2 receptor blocker |
| Sertraline | Zoloft | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) |
| Fluoxetine | Prozac | SSRI |
| Gabapentin | Neurontin | Anticonvulsant; used for certain nerve pain |
| Acetaminophen | Tylenol | Analgesic and antipyretic |
| Ibuprofen | Advil, Motrin | Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) |
| Amoxicillin | Amoxil (familiar brand example; availability varies) | Penicillin antibiotic |
| Cetirizine (oral) | Zyrtec | Second-generation H1 antihistamine |
| Albuterol (oral inhalation) | Ventolin HFA (inhaler example) | Short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA) bronchodilator |
Heart, blood pressure, and fluid balance
1. Atorvastatin
Brand examples: Lipitor. Class: Statin.
Selected uses: High cholesterol and cardiovascular risk reduction in appropriate patients.
How it works (MOA): Reduces cholesterol production in the liver, helping lower LDL cholesterol.
Selected side effects: Diarrhea and joint pain.
Safety point: Unexplained muscle pain or weakness can signal muscle injury; liver problems are another important risk.
Study connection: Connect the statin class with cholesterol, rather than treating the brand as a separate medicine. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
2. Lisinopril
Brand examples: Zestril, Prinivil. Class: ACE inhibitor.
Selected uses: High blood pressure, heart failure, and improved survival after a heart attack.
How it works (MOA): Reduces formation of angiotensin II, a substance that narrows blood vessels.
Selected side effects: Dry cough and dizziness.
Safety point: Angioedema, high potassium, and fetal harm are important risks. Facial or tongue swelling with breathing difficulty is an emergency.
Study connection: The ending -pril is a useful ACE-inhibitor clue, but always verify the full drug name. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
3. Losartan
Brand examples: Cozaar. Class: Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB).
Selected uses: High blood pressure and certain diabetic kidney disease.
How it works (MOA): Blocks the effect of angiotensin II so blood vessels can relax.
Selected side effects: Dizziness and diarrhea.
Safety point: Important risks include fetal harm and changes in potassium or kidney function.
Study connection: ACE inhibitors reduce angiotensin II formation; ARBs block its action at receptors. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
4. Amlodipine
Brand examples: Norvasc. Class: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Selected uses: High blood pressure and certain types of angina.
How it works (MOA): Limits calcium entry into blood-vessel muscle cells, helping arteries relax.
Selected side effects: Ankle swelling, dizziness, and flushing.
Safety point: Low blood pressure and, rarely, worsening chest pain can occur. It is not a rescue treatment for an acute angina attack.
Study connection: Calcium channel blocker is a class; amlodipine is one drug within it. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
5. Metoprolol
Brand examples: Lopressor (tartrate, immediate release); Toprol-XL (succinate, extended release). Class: Beta blocker.
Selected uses: High blood pressure and angina; other cardiac uses depend on the formulation. Succinate extended release is used for heart failure.
How it works (MOA): Reduces the effect of stress signals on the heart, slowing heart rate and reducing workload.
Selected side effects: Tiredness and dizziness.
Safety point: Slow heart rate and low blood pressure are important concerns. Abrupt discontinuation can cause serious heart problems.
Study connection: Lopressor and Toprol-XL contain different salts and release formulations. Verify the exact product; do not assume automatic substitution. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
6. Hydrochlorothiazide
Brand examples: Microzide (brand example; availability varies). Class: Thiazide diuretic.
Selected uses: High blood pressure and fluid retention.
How it works (MOA): Helps the kidneys remove excess salt and water into urine.
Selected side effects: More urination and dizziness.
Safety point: Dehydration, low sodium or potassium, and gout flares are important concerns.
Study connection: Hydrochlorothiazide is often abbreviated HCTZ and also appears in combination products. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
7. Furosemide
Brand examples: Lasix. Class: Loop diuretic.
Selected uses: Fluid retention associated with conditions such as heart failure; also high blood pressure.
How it works (MOA): Promotes salt and water removal by the kidneys.
Selected side effects: Frequent urination and dizziness.
Safety point: Excess fluid loss and electrolyte changes can be serious; hearing problems are another important risk.
Study connection: Lasix pairs with furosemide. Both loop and thiazide diuretics remove fluid, but they are different classes. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
Diabetes and thyroid medicines
8. Metformin
Brand examples: Glucophage (familiar brand example; availability varies by product). Class: Biguanide.
Selected uses: Type 2 diabetes.
How it works (MOA): Reduces glucose production by the liver and improves the body's response to insulin.
Selected side effects: Diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal discomfort.
Safety point: Lactic acidosis is rare but serious. Kidney function affects safe use. Long-term use can lower vitamin B12 levels.
Study connection: Immediate-release and extended-release products need their own formulation check. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
9. Glipizide
Brand examples: Glucotrol XL (extended release). Class: Sulfonylurea.
Selected uses: Type 2 diabetes.
How it works (MOA): Stimulates the pancreas to release insulin.
Selected side effects: Low blood sugar and weight gain are key effects to remember.
Safety point: Severe hypoglycemia can cause confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
Study connection: Unlike metformin's main action, glipizide increases insulin release. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
10. Levothyroxine
Brand examples: Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint. Class: Thyroid hormone replacement.
Selected uses: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
How it works (MOA): Replaces thyroxine, a thyroid hormone needed for normal metabolism.
Selected side effects: Too much replacement can cause shakiness, sweating, insomnia, or palpitations.
Safety point: Excess thyroid hormone can cause serious heart problems. This medicine is not a weight-loss treatment.
Study connection: Pay attention to the exact product and strength; many strengths are expressed in micrograms. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
Stomach and acid-related medicines
11. Omeprazole
Brand examples: Prilosec. Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI).
Selected uses: GERD and other acid-related conditions, including certain ulcers.
How it works (MOA): Suppresses the stomach's acid-producing pumps.
Selected side effects: Headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Safety point: Severe diarrhea and kidney inflammation are important risks; longer use has additional monitoring considerations.
Study connection: A PPI reduces acid production. OTC availability does not make every duration of use appropriate. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
12. Famotidine
Brand examples: Pepcid. Class: Histamine H2 receptor blocker.
Selected uses: Heartburn, GERD, and certain ulcers.
How it works (MOA): Blocks H2 receptors involved in stomach acid secretion.
Selected side effects: Headache, dizziness, constipation, or diarrhea.
Safety point: Kidney impairment can affect dosing and the risk of nervous-system effects such as confusion.
Study connection: Famotidine is an H2 blocker; cetirizine below is an H1 antihistamine. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
Mood and nervous-system medicines
13. Sertraline
Brand examples: Zoloft. Class: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Selected uses: Depression and several other conditions, including OCD and panic disorder.
How it works (MOA): Reduces serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonin availability between nerve cells.
Selected side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, sleep changes, and sexual side effects.
Safety point: Important risks include serotonin syndrome, bleeding, and increased suicidal thoughts or behavior in younger patients.
Study connection: A shared class does not mean two antidepressants can be swapped without a prescriber's plan. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
14. Fluoxetine
Brand examples: Prozac. Class: SSRI.
Selected uses: Depression, OCD, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
How it works (MOA): Reduces serotonin reuptake in the nervous system.
Selected side effects: Nausea, sleep difficulty, nervousness, and sexual side effects.
Safety point: Serotonin syndrome and increased suicidal thoughts or behavior in younger patients are important warnings.
Study connection: Fluoxetine stays in the body for a long time, which matters when clinicians plan medication changes. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
15. Gabapentin
Brand examples: Neurontin. Class: Anticonvulsant; used for certain nerve pain.
Selected uses: Postherpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles) and certain seizures.
How it works (MOA): Modulates nerve signaling; its full therapeutic mechanism is not completely understood.
Selected side effects: Sleepiness, dizziness, and coordination problems.
Safety point: Breathing problems can occur, especially with opioids, other sedating medicines, or underlying breathing impairment.
Study connection: Gabapentin is not an opioid. Different gabapentin products can have different uses and instructions. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
Pain and fever medicines
16. Acetaminophen
Brand examples: Tylenol. Class: Analgesic and antipyretic.
Selected uses: Mild to moderate pain and fever.
How it works (MOA): Acts on pain and temperature regulation; its exact mechanism is not fully established.
Selected side effects: Usually well tolerated when used as directed; serious effects include liver injury and rare severe skin reactions.
Safety point: Taking too much, including through multiple combination products, can cause severe liver damage.
Study connection: Scan combination cold and pain medicines for acetaminophen to spot duplicate ingredients. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
17. Ibuprofen
Brand examples: Advil, Motrin. Class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Selected uses: Pain, fever, and inflammation.
How it works (MOA): Reduces prostaglandin production, which contributes to pain, fever, and inflammation.
Selected side effects: Stomach upset, heartburn, and nausea.
Safety point: Important risks include gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney injury, and heart attack or stroke.
Study connection: Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are different drug classes. OTC pain medicines still need interaction and duplication checks. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
Infection, allergy, and breathing medicines
18. Amoxicillin
Brand examples: Amoxil (familiar brand example; availability varies). Class: Penicillin antibiotic.
Selected uses: Certain bacterial infections.
How it works (MOA): Interferes with bacterial cell-wall formation.
Selected side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, and rash.
Safety point: Severe allergy and severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea can occur.
Study connection: Amoxicillin is not the same product as amoxicillin/clavulanate. Antibiotics do not treat viral colds. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
19. Cetirizine (oral)
Brand examples: Zyrtec. Class: Second-generation H1 antihistamine.
Selected uses: Allergy symptoms and hives.
How it works (MOA): Blocks histamine's action at H1 receptors.
Selected side effects: Drowsiness, fatigue, and dry mouth.
Safety point: Rare severe itching can follow stopping long-term use. A pharmacist or clinician can advise about this problem.
Study connection: Second generation does not mean never sedating. Zyrtec-D also contains pseudoephedrine. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
20. Albuterol (oral inhalation)
Brand examples: Ventolin HFA (inhaler example). Class: Short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA) bronchodilator.
Selected uses: Relief or prevention of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma.
How it works (MOA): Relaxes airway muscles so air can move more easily.
Selected side effects: Shakiness, nervousness, and a fast heartbeat.
Safety point: Rarely, breathing can worsen immediately after use. Needing it more often than usual warrants clinical review.
Study connection: Check the inhaler or nebulizer product and device. A rescue bronchodilator is different from a daily controller medicine. Drug reference: MedlinePlus.
Lopressor vs. Toprol-XL: the distinction to remember
Both brands contain metoprolol, but Lopressor is metoprolol tartrate immediate release, while Toprol-XL is metoprolol succinate extended release. The formulation affects release and directions, and their labeled uses are not identical. Recognize the difference during data entry and refer substitution or therapy questions to the pharmacist. Metoprolol reference.
Test yourself before reading the answers
- Which generic belongs to Lasix?
- Which drug is an ACE inhibitor: lisinopril or losartan?
- Which diabetes medicine stimulates insulin release: metformin or glipizide?
- Is omeprazole an H2 blocker or a proton pump inhibitor?
- Which medicine is the inhaled rescue bronchodilator in this list?
Answers: 1. Furosemide. 2. Lisinopril; losartan is an ARB. 3. Glipizide. 4. Proton pump inhibitor. 5. Albuterol.
If you missed a question, rewrite the generic, brand, and class together. Then add one sentence explaining the mechanism. A useful goal is accurate recall with an explanation, not simply recognizing the spelling.
Build a repeatable study routine
Study five drugs at a time. On the first pass, match generic names to brands. On the second pass, sort them by class. On the third pass, cover the entry and explain the use and mechanism in your own words. Revisit missed drugs the next day and again later in the week. These are suggested study steps, not a guarantee of exam performance.
Keep separate notes for common effects and serious warnings. A drug can have both, and a short study list cannot replace the full prescribing information. For technician work, practice recognizing when a question or product discrepancy needs the pharmacist's attention.
Pair medication review with PharmDecoded's four-week PTCE study plan, practice tests, and pharmacy technician skills guide.
Continue with the 200-Drug Study Diary
If a structured page helps you study, the DailyLotusPrints 200-Drug Study Diary, by Siri Pharm D, expands this approach into a paid PDF study companion. It includes:
- 200 drug entries across nine categories, with generic and brand names, class, mechanism, selected uses, and side effects.
- Two drugs per study page, with 108 PDF pages overall.
- Clickable category tabs and an alphabetical drug index for moving between topics.
- Typeable notes fields, plus space for your own study notes.
Handwriting and stickers require a compatible PDF annotation app. Annotation apps and stickers are not included. This is a digital download, not a physical book. The collection is not an official PTCB list, and purchasing it does not guarantee an exam pass.
View the 200-Drug Study Diary in the DailyLotusPrints Etsy shop. Check the listing for the current price and download details.
Sources and scope
Each drug entry links to its MedlinePlus medication reference, provided by the National Library of Medicine with AHFS patient medication information. The summaries above are original, condensed study explanations. They do not reproduce the full medication monographs or include every indication, interaction, contraindication, or adverse effect.
For the cetirizine discontinuation warning, see the FDA safety communication on rare severe itching after stopping long-term cetirizine or levocetirizine.
References checked October 15, 2026. Prepared with AI assistance. No independent clinical peer review is claimed.