Most common drug list

[epg_pei]

I've searched both web and this site for a list of most commonly used drugs. I vaguely remember seeing such a list ona pre-employment exam online, but I'll be jiggered if I can find it now. I want to get the information from a practicing nurse, not a book. I have found even as a student that my pharmacology book is far from perfect. It tells me such-and-such is the typical drug for a particular situation, when I know for a fact it's ancient history. I don't know whether I should ask for ER drugs or drugs used on a med/surg floor. That would be a mighty long list I think. Just the basics we ought to know as beginning nurses. Thanks! :)

[mitchsmom]

Don't know if this helps but here's a list of commonly precribed drugs:

http://www.rxlist.com/top200.htm

My husband flies a medevac helicopter, he sees the crew use succinycholine, fentanyl, lidocaine (although he said they don't seem to be using it as much anymore for cardiac problems but they use it for RSI, which I have no idea what that is), phenergan (so they won't puke in the helo I think!), integrilin, heparin, nitroglycerin, dopamine, etc.

But that is just in and around transport stuff for mostly traumas and cardiacs & I'm sure there are more but those are some of the commonest.

If you want nurses to answer your question, you may want to try for more responses on the General Discussion thread.

[Coldfoot]

Not to be facetious but I think specifying what setting you're looking for might help. Though the meds listed by Mitchsmom are very frequently used in Acute care, I doubt you'll find an Urgent Care Clinic that has used Suc's this year. The most common used medications I know of are Ibuprofen, ASA, and acetaminophen.

BTW RSI is Rapid Sequence Induction. It is paralyzing and sedating a pt, typically to intubate them. The thought behind Lido in RSI is to decrease intercranial presure due to noxiouse stimuli.

[mitchsmom]

Not to be facetious but I think specifying what setting you're looking for might help. Though the meds listed by Mitchsmom are very frequently used in Acute care, I doubt you'll find an Urgent Care Clinic that has used Suc's this year. The most common used medications I know of are Ibuprofen, ASA, and acetaminophen.

BTW RSI is Rapid Sequence Induction. It is paralyzing and sedating a pt, typically to intubate them. The thought behind Lido in RSI is to decrease intercranial presure due to noxiouse stimuli.

Yes, I agree, that's why I made sure to write that those were just what dh sees for transport (mostly cardiacs and traumas), very limited scope. I sort of threw it in b/c he mentioned ER, so I didn't know if he wanted to go with that. If he wants just "x" general list of most prescribed drugs, that link I left should do pretty well I think.

I did look up RSI after I wrote that, I couldn't resist figuring it out. Thanks for the info -when I read the definition it didn't tell me about the thought behind it. :)

Oh yeah, RN Notes also lists some commonly prescribed drugs, I bet many of them are the same as the ones on that link.

[epg_pei]

I have a few cards to make up, thanks! :chuckle

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

I work in a cardiac unit...the drugs that I seem to use the most include:

Beta Blockers (Lopressor, Coreg, etc...) ASA, Plavix, ACE meds (Lisinopril seems to be what our docs like...), Statins (Atorvastatin, Zocor), Morphine, Nitro, amiodarone, tylenol, Potassium, Lasix, HCTZ...of course, there are many others

Emergency/IV Drugs: epi, lido, dopamine, atropine, amiodarone, IV ntg, nipride, cardizem, vasopressin are the most common drugs we use on our standing orders...