The Top 200 Drugs of 2017?

Dr. Sean Kane PharmD, BCPS of Rosalind-Franklin University recently introduced the ClinCalc DrugStats Database and the 2017 Top 200 Drugs on his ClinCalc.com website.

The website was originally created to do calculations that would help him as a resident and then fellow practitioners. He noticed that the Top 200 drugs list has been absent for the last 5 years. Through a mechanism he describes on his website, he’s come up with a viable Top 200 and Top 300 drugs that can be valuable for pharmacy schools that accounts for some of the changes in the calculating of these lists and the expense of getting the most recent.  

The annual Top 200 Drugs is a list that takes advantage of Pareto’s Principle, that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. The Top 200 drugs as the 20% represents the 80% of prescriptions that are actually filled. While the actual percentages deviate from that 80/20, the principle holds. However, the Top 200 Drugs list presents a problem for students and educators. What order should a student learn them in?

If one tries to learn them in the order they appear, this makes it very difficult as drugs in similar classes often sit on different areas of the table. If one tries to learn them alphabetically, this only helps with those drug classes that have a similar prefix, like the cephalosporins cefepime and cefuroxime. However, by classifying them in an order of pathophysiologic classifications, it becomes much easier to learn them. In my 2 audiobooks Memorizing Pharmacology: A Relaxed Approach and How to Pronounce Drug Names: A Visual Approach to Preventing Medication Errors, I take advantage of this third approach making further groupings to help with serial memorization – memorizing drug lists in a specific order.

Below, I have ordered the Top 200 Drugs as listed on the ClinCalc.com website first in 7 main groupings of Gastrointestinal, Musculoskeletal, Respiratory, Immune, Neuro, Cardio, Endocrine. I use the GMRINCE, GrandMothers RINCE kids hair (the French spelling of rinse) as a way to remember this broad order of gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, etc.

Within the large groups I classify drugs by their mechanism of action starting with H2-blockers (ending with –tidine), then proton pump inhibitors (ending with –prazole) and so on, alphabetizing the drugs within a class with the same stem to give a way to readily memorize these 200 drugs.

Both audiobooks go into greater detail on mnemonics and rationale for this system. By using Dr. Kane’s Top 200 list and the Memorizing Pharmacology rationale, a viable list and method comes forth for the Top 200 Drugs of 2017. I’ve made a playlist on YouTube with the Top 200 drugs listed in the order below:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCVrPKWoior1LYXzy4u04Ychd_0pyOkCQ

	Gastrointestinal
1	Famotidine
2	Ranitidine
3	Esomeprazole
4	Lansoprazole
5	Omeprazole
6	Pantoprazole Sodium
7	Docusate
8	Ondansetron
9	Promethazine Hydrochloride
10	Mesalamine
	Musculoskeletal
11	Aspirin
12	Diclofenac
13	Ibuprofen
14	Naproxen
15	Meloxicam
16	Celecoxib
17	Acetaminophen
18	Morphine
19	Hydrocodone Bitartrate/Acetaminophen
20	Oxycodone
21	Tramadol Hydrochloride
22	Sumatriptan
23	Alendronate Sodium
24	Baclofen
25	Carisoprodol
26	Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride
27	Methocarbamol
28	Tizanidine
29	Allopurinol
	Respiratory (also some allergy/topical)
30	Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
31	Hydroxyzine
32	Cetirizine Hydrochloride
33	Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride
34	Loratadine
35	Beclomethasone
36	Budesonide
37	Fluticasone
38	Mometasone
39	Triamcinolone
40	Guaifenesin
41	Benzonatate
42	Clobetasol Propionate
43	Hydrocortisone
44	Methylprednisolone
45	Prednisolone
46	Prednisone
47	Budesonide; Formoterol
48	Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol Xinafoate
49	Albuterol
50	Albuterol Sulfate; Ipratropium Bromide
51	Ipratropium
52	Tiotropium
53	Montelukast
	Immune
54	Amoxicillin
55	Penicillin V
56	Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium
57	Cephalexin
58	Doxycycline
59	Azithromycin
60	Clindamycin
61	Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim
62	Ciprofloxacin
63	Levofloxacin
64	Fluconazole
65	Nystatin
66	Acyclovir
67	Valacyclovir
68	Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
	Neuro
69	Meclizine Hydrochloride
70	Zolpidem Tartrate
71	Trazodone Hydrochloride
72	Citalopram
73	Escitalopram Oxalate
74	Fluoxetine Hydrochloride
75	Paroxetine
76	Sertraline Hydrochloride
77	Duloxetine
78	Desvenlafaxine
79	Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
80	Amitriptyline
81	Nortriptyline Hydrochloride
82	Mirtazapine
83	Bupropion
84	Alprazolam
85	Clonazepam
86	Diazepam
87	Lorazepam
88	Temazepam
89	Buspirone Hydrochloride
90	Amphetamine
91	Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride
92	Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate
93	Methylphenidate
94	Lithium
95	Aripiprazole
96	Risperidone
97	Quetiapine Fumarate
98	Divalproex Sodium
99	Phenytoin
100	Gabapentin
101	Lamotrigine
102	Levetiracetam
103	Oxcarbazepine
104	Pregabalin
105	Topiramate
106	Benztropine Mesylate
107	Ropinirole Hydrochloride
108	Donepezil Hydrochloride
109	Memantine Hydrochloride
	Cardio
110	Omega-3-acid Ethyl Esters
111	Aspirin
112	Furosemide
113	Chlorthalidone
114	Hydrochlorothiazide
115	Hydrochlorothiazide; Triamterene
116	Spironolactone
117	Potassium
118	Doxazosin Mesylate
119	Terazosin
120	Clonidine
121	Propranolol Hydrochloride
122	Propranolol Hydrochloride/Hydrochlorothiazide
123	Atenolol
124	Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
125	Metoprolol
126	Carvedilol
127	Nebivolol Hydrochloride
128	Benazepril Hydrochloride
129	Enalapril Maleate
130	Lisinopril
131	Lisinopril; Hydrochlorothiazide
132	Quinapril
133	Ramipril
134	Losartan Potassium
135	Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide
136	Olmesartan Medoxomil
137	Valsartan
138	Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide
139	Diltiazem Hydrochloride
140	Verapamil Hydrochloride
141	Amlodipine Besylate
142	Amlodipine Besylate/Benazepril Hydrochloride
143	Nifedipine
144	Hydralazine Hydrochloride
145	Isosorbide Mononitrate
146	Nitroglycerin
147	Atorvastatin
148	Lovastatin
149	Pravastatin Sodium
150	Rosuvastatin Calcium
151	Simvastatin
152	Fenofibrate
153	Gemfibrozil
154	Ezetimibe
155	Ezetimibe; Simvastatin
156	Warfarin
157	Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate
158	Rivaroxaban
159	Clopidogrel Bisulfate
160	Digoxin
161	Amiodarone Hydrochloride
	Endocrine
162	Metformin Hydrochloride
163	Metformin Hydrochloride/Sitagliptin Phosphate
164	Sitagliptin Phosphate
165	Glyburide
166	Glimepiride
167	Glipizide
168	Pioglitazone Hydrochloride
169	Liraglutide
170	Insulin Aspart
171	Insulin Lispro
172	Insulin Detemir
173	Insulin Glargine
174	Levothyroxine
175	Thyroid
176	Testosterone
177	Estradiol
178	Estrogens, Conjugated
179	Ethinyl Estradiol/Desogestrel
180	Ethinyl Estradiol/Drospirenone
181	Ethinyl Estradiol/Levonorgestrel
182	Ethinyl Estradiol/Norethindrone
183	Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestimate
184	Oxybutynin
185	Tamsulosin Hydrochloride
186	Finasteride
187	Anastrozole
188	Phentermine
	Eye drops
189	Brimonidine Tartrate
190	Latanoprost
191	Travoprost
	Vitamin, Mineral, Electrolyte, Etc.
192	Calcium
193	Cholecalciferol/Alpha-Tocopherol
194	Cyanocobalamin
195	Ergocalciferol
196	Folic Acid
197	Magnesium
198	Sodium
199	Sodium Fluoride
200	Ferrous Sulfate

 
Dr. Kane’s original list from the ClinCalc website is here:

Rank	Drug Name	Total Prescriptions 2014
1	Lisinopril	115,508,573
2	Levothyroxine	99,992,248
3	Metformin Hydrochloride	86,125,658
4	Simvastatin	81,518,801
5	Atorvastatin	74,227,208
6	Metoprolol	72,320,918
7	Omeprazole	71,929,303
8	Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone Bitartrate	68,756,036
9	Amlodipine Besylate	63,722,510
10	Hydrochlorothiazide	50,428,398
11	Albuterol	48,189,599
12	Gabapentin	39,361,473
13	Sertraline Hydrochloride	37,723,879
14	Losartan Potassium	37,330,149
15	Furosemide	37,104,417
16	Azithromycin	31,988,786
17	Acetaminophen	31,926,190
18	Atenolol	30,837,679
19	Insulin Human	30,588,285
20	Fluticasone	30,573,156
21	Citalopram	29,737,921
22	Pravastatin Sodium	29,717,750
23	Alprazolam	28,897,888
24	Potassium	28,365,609
25	Amoxicillin	27,585,663
26	Tramadol Hydrochloride	25,809,738
27	Montelukast	25,670,394
28	Trazodone Hydrochloride	25,521,675
29	Bupropion	25,061,016
30	Rosuvastatin Calcium	24,760,853
31	Carvedilol	24,317,622
32	Prednisone	24,212,143
33	Ibuprofen	24,062,089
34	Fluoxetine Hydrochloride	23,867,188
35	Warfarin	23,420,139
36	Clopidogrel Bisulfate	23,271,222
37	Hydrochlorothiazide/Lisinopril	23,095,053
38	Pantoprazole Sodium	22,864,144
39	Zolpidem Tartrate	22,399,740
40	Meloxicam	21,630,829
41	Clonazepam	21,068,437
42	Glipizide	20,700,897
43	Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride	20,610,429
44	Insulin Glargine	20,384,788
45	Escitalopram Oxalate	19,639,202
46	Aspirin	18,251,902
47	Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestimate	17,831,558
48	Venlafaxine Hydrochloride	17,385,388
49	Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol Xinafoate	16,419,775
50	Ranitidine	16,215,474
51	Fenofibrate	16,184,872
52	Tamsulosin Hydrochloride	16,068,805
53	Lorazepam	15,947,170
54	Amphetamine	15,905,051
55	Methylphenidate	15,505,256
56	Duloxetine	15,048,113
57	Paroxetine	15,020,665
58	Esomeprazole	14,963,819
59	Naproxen	14,371,092
60	Ethinyl Estradiol/Norethindrone	14,183,810
61	Hydrochlorothiazide/Losartan Potassium	14,028,830
62	Oxycodone	13,888,026
63	Allopurinol	13,714,793
64	Estradiol	13,220,499
65	Lovastatin	12,970,784
66	Glimepiride	12,859,036
67	Diltiazem Hydrochloride	12,853,214
68	Lamotrigine	12,705,157
69	Cetirizine Hydrochloride	12,369,433
70	Quetiapine Fumarate	11,456,968
71	Ergocalciferol	11,170,882
72	Clonidine	11,132,422
73	Pregabalin	11,069,546
74	Tiotropium	11,046,497
75	Hydrochlorothiazide/Triamterene	10,970,464
76	Loratadine	10,785,216
77	Amitriptyline	10,518,139
78	Folic Acid	10,404,775
79	Topiramate	10,284,071
80	Spironolactone	10,225,679
81	Insulin Aspart	10,220,895
82	Budesonide/Formoterol	10,150,634
83	Propranolol Hydrochloride	9,858,069
84	Ciprofloxacin	9,312,320
85	Diclofenac	9,162,791
86	Diazepam	9,134,522
87	Valsartan	8,880,976
88	Ezetimibe	8,782,265
89	Enalapril Maleate	8,768,774
90	Alendronate Sodium	8,459,284
91	Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate	8,394,654
92	Cephalexin	7,886,065
93	Hydroxyzine	7,812,728
94	Latanoprost	7,594,870
95	Buspirone Hydrochloride	7,560,250
96	Desogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol	7,537,023
97	Isosorbide Mononitrate	7,514,558
98	Ramipril	7,511,222
99	Ferrous Sulfate	7,422,924
100	Tizanidine	7,411,430
101	Benazepril Hydrochloride	7,389,230
102	Divalproex Sodium	7,299,035
103	Celecoxib	7,283,822
104	Finasteride	7,192,989
105	Morphine	7,172,178
106	Sitagliptin Phosphate	7,162,884
107	Oxybutynin	7,057,593
108	Donepezil Hydrochloride	7,003,989
109	Estrogens, Conjugated	6,938,375
110	Nifedipine	6,887,747
111	Docusate	6,797,829
112	Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim	6,761,996
113	Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium	6,733,526
114	Doxycycline	6,712,475
115	Mometasone	6,652,178
116	Mirtazapine	6,562,967
117	Ondansetron	6,548,132
118	Pioglitazone Hydrochloride	6,528,320
119	Aripiprazole	6,520,070
120	Verapamil Hydrochloride	6,473,461
121	Glyburide	6,365,008
122	Hydrochlorothiazide/Valsartan	6,148,007
123	Famotidine	6,091,332
124	Cyanocobalamin	6,035,870
125	Hydralazine Hydrochloride	5,946,943
126	Methocarbamol	5,908,995
127	Digoxin	5,860,786
128	Risperidone	5,798,068
129	Cholecalciferol/Alpha-Tocopherol	5,757,506
130	Levetiracetam	5,493,521
131	Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate	5,473,857
132	Amlodipine Besylate/Benazepril Hydrochloride	5,450,572
133	HCTZ/Propranolol Hydrochloride	5,401,115
134	Testosterone	5,336,442
135	Sumatriptan	5,309,154
136	Levofloxacin	5,163,786
137	Hydrocortisone	5,157,370
138	Insulin Lispro	5,016,277
139	Prednisolone	5,012,933
140	Omega-3-acid Ethyl Esters	5,004,832
141	Nebivolol Hydrochloride	4,961,230
142	Lansoprazole	4,895,439
143	Nitroglycerin	4,871,946
144	Temazepam	4,796,392
145	Insulin Detemir	4,772,951
146	Baclofen	4,764,197
147	Doxazosin Mesylate	4,676,441
148	Gemfibrozil	4,660,294
149	Terazosin	4,505,687
150	Promethazine Hydrochloride	4,463,067
151	Carisoprodol	4,459,908
152	Albuterol Sulfate/Ipratropium Bromide	4,445,835
153	Ropinirole Hydrochloride	4,438,220
154	Triamcinolone	4,419,530
155	Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol	4,415,217
156	Phenytoin	4,310,313
157	Acyclovir	4,248,866
158	Atenolol/Chlorthalidone	4,181,880
159	Ethinyl Estradiol/Levonorgestrel	4,170,689
160	Oxcarbazepine	4,148,660
161	Benzonatate	4,140,925
162	Brimonidine Tartrate	4,112,850
163	Methylprednisolone	4,109,314
164	Meclizine Hydrochloride	4,088,295
165	Lithium	4,058,703
166	Benztropine Mesylate	4,023,387
167	Olmesartan Medoxomil	4,016,252
168	Sodium	3,985,912
169	Sodium Fluoride	3,977,009
170	Phentermine	3,942,606
171	Clindamycin	3,914,663
172	Fluconazole	3,834,200
173	Budesonide	3,808,496
174	Rivaroxaban	3,776,704
175	Clobetasol Propionate	3,749,794
176	Calcium	3,745,361
177	Travoprost	3,735,625
178	Amiodarone Hydrochloride	3,641,444
179	Nortriptyline Hydrochloride	3,621,356
180	Memantine Hydrochloride	3,618,231
181	Ezetimibe/Simvastatin	3,612,666
182	Penicillin V	3,577,360
183	Mesalamine	3,530,952
184	Magnesium	3,509,192
185	Guaifenesin	3,456,761
186	Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride	3,451,191
187	Thyroid	3,405,708
188	Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate	3,374,192
189	Metformin HCl/Sitagliptin Phosphate	3,361,621
190	Beclomethasone	3,283,291
191	Quinapril	3,276,073
192	Valacyclovir	3,269,988
193	Ipratropium	3,256,722
194	Chlorthalidone	3,226,084
195	Liraglutide	3,212,290
196	Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride	3,194,849
197	Anastrozole	3,146,379
198	Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride	3,128,326
199	Nystatin	3,127,950
200	Desvenlafaxine	3,077,312

References
 
Kane S. "ClinCalc DrugStats Database." ClinCalc DrugStats Database. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.
 
Kane S. "Introducing the ClinCalc DrugStats Database and the 2017 Top 200 Drugs." ClinCalc. 17 Feb. 2017.
 
Guerra T. How to Pronounce Drug Names: A Visual Approach to Preventing Medication Errors. Ankeny, IA: Ankeny Healthcare Communications, LLC, 2016. Print.
 
Guerra T. Memorizing Pharmacology: A Relaxed Approach. Raleigh, NC: Lulu.com, 2016. Print.