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Top Common Nurse | NCLEX, ANCC, AANP Medications

In 2024, the NCLEX and APRN examinations continues to challenge nursing candidates, both RN (Registered Nurse) and PN (Practical Nurse), with a comprehensive assessment of their knowledge, including a focus on medications. To aid in preparation, learners often turn to a variety of study tools that encapsulate the most crucial information. Among these resources, a “cheat sheet” or PDF that outlines the top 100 medications commonly tested on the NCLEX, ANCC and AANP exams has become indispensable. This succinct guide, complemented by a set of 100 flashcards, offers a focused review of essential drugs, their uses, side effects, and nursing considerations. Platforms like QBankProAcademy.com have also become a popular choice for aspiring students and nurses seeking interactive learning experiences, providing quizzes and tests that reinforce this vital content. These resources, when utilized effectively, equip nursing candidates with the knowledge they need to excel on the medication portion of the NCLEX exams.

This list includes medications that nursing candidates are likely to encounter on the NCLEX, reflecting their importance in patient care across various healthcare settings:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – Pain relief and fever management.
Aspirin – Pain relief, fever management, and blood thinner.
Insulin (Various Types) – Management of diabetes.
Metformin (Glucophage) – Management of type 2 diabetes.
Simvastatin (Zocor) – Cholesterol-lowering medication.
Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) – Antihypertensive (ACE inhibitor).
Amlodipine (Norvasc) – Antihypertensive (Calcium channel blocker).
Furosemide (Lasix) – Diuretic for edema and hypertension.
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) – Diuretic for hypertension.
Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) – Bronchodilator for asthma or COPD.
Levothyroxine (Synthroid) – Thyroid hormone replacement.
Warfarin (Coumadin) – Anticoagulant.Heparin – Anticoagulant.Amoxicillin – Antibiotic.
Cephalexin (Keflex) – Antibiotic.
Prednisone – Corticosteroid for inflammation.
Omeprazole (Prilosec) – Proton pump inhibitor for GERD.
Lorazepam (Ativan) – Benzodiazepine for anxiety and seizures.
Sertraline (Zoloft) – SSRI antidepressant.
Diazepam (Valium) – Benzodiazepine for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and muscle spasms.
Amoxicillin – Broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic for various bacterial infections.
Ranitidine (Zantac) – H2 antagonist for treating GERD, ulcers, and other gastrointestinal issues. (Note: As of my last update, ranitidine has been withdrawn from many markets due to safety concerns, so be sure to check the latest guidelines.)
Sertraline (Zoloft) – SSRI antidepressant for depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) – SSRI antidepressant for depression, OCD, and bulimia.
Trazodone – Used primarily for depression and sleep disorders.
Lorazepam (Ativan) – Benzodiazepine for anxiety disorders and sedation.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) – Anticonvulsant used for nerve pain and seizures.
Clopidogrel (Plavix) – Antiplatelet agent for preventing strokes and heart attacks.
Montelukast (Singulair) – Leukotriene receptor antagonist for asthma and allergies.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone) – Used for opioid addiction treatment and pain management.
Naloxone (Narcan) – Opioid antagonist used to counteract opioid overdose effects.
Vancomycin – Antibiotic for severe bacterial infections resistant to other antibiotics.
Esomeprazole (Nexium) – Proton pump inhibitor for GERD and other stomach acid-related conditions.
Losartan (Cozaar) – Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) for hypertension and stroke risk reduction.Sildenafil (Viagra) – Phosphodiesterase inhibitor for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension.
Tamsulosin (Flomax) – Alpha-blocker for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms.
Allopurinol (Zyloprim) – Used to prevent gout attacks and to treat high uric acid levels.
Lithium – Mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) – SNRI for depression, anxiety, and neuropathic pain.
Insulin glargine (Lantus) – Long-acting insulin for managing diabetes mellitus.
Risperidone (Risperdal) – Antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Quetiapine (Seroquel) – Antipsychotic for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) – Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease.
Haloperidol (Haldol) – Antipsychotic for acute psychosis, delirium, and Tourette syndrome.
Calcium carbonate (Tums) – Antacid and calcium supplement.
Doxycycline – Tetracycline antibiotic for bacterial infections and acne.
Clonidine (Catapres) – Alpha-2 agonist for hypertension and ADHD.Methotrexate – Chemotherapy agent and immune system suppressant for cancer and autoimmune diseases.Nitroglycerin – Nitrate for angina and heart failure.
Phenytoin (Dilantin) – Antiepileptic for seizure disorders.
Glucagon – Hormone for severe hypoglycemia.
Pantoprazole (Protonix) – Proton pump inhibitor for GERD and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Zolpidem (Ambien) – Sedative for insomnia.
Adalimumab (Humira) – TNF inhibitor for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.Cetirizine (Zyrtec) – Antihistamine for allergies.
Dexamethasone – Corticosteroid for inflammation, severe allergies, and asthma.
Levofloxacin (Levaquin) – Fluoroquinolone antibiotic for bacterial infections.
Valacyclovir (Valtrex) – Antiviral for herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus.
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) – analgesic for moderate to severe pain.
Ipratropium (Atrovent) – Anticholinergic bronchodilator for COPD and asthma.
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) – Low molecular weight heparin for preventing and treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
Amiodarone (Cordarone) – Antiarrhythmic for ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) – Anticonvulsant for epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia.
Ezetimibe (Zetia) – Lipid-lowering agent used in combination with statins to reduce cholesterol.
Finasteride (Proscar) – 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern baldness.
Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur) – Nitrate for prevention of angina pectoris.
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) – Anticonvulsant for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
Memantine (Namenda) – NMDA receptor antagonist for Alzheimer’s disease.
Mirtazapine (Remeron) – Antidepressant for major depressive disorder.
Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) – NSAID for pain, inflammation, and fever.
Ondansetron (Zofran) – Serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist for nausea and vomiting, especially in chemotherapy.
Paroxetine (Paxil) – SSRI antidepressant for major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.
Quinapril (Accupril) – ACE inhibitor for hypertension and heart failure.
Rivastigmine (Exelon) – Cholinesterase inhibitor for dementia in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.Sotalol (Betapace) – Beta-blocker with antiarrhythmic properties for ventricular arrhythmias.Tiotropium (Spiriva) – Long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator for COPD.
Ursodiol (Actigall) – Used to dissolve gallstones and for primary biliary cirrhosis.
Verapamil (Calan) – Calcium channel blocker for hypertension, angina, and certain arrhythmias.
Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) – Anticoagulant for preventing and treating DVT and PE, and for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
Apixaban (Eliquis) – Anticoagulant used to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
Bisoprolol (Zebeta) – Beta-blocker for hypertension and heart failure.
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) – Immunosuppressant for preventing organ transplant rejection and treating autoimmune diseases.
Diclofenac (Voltaren) – NSAID for pain and inflammatory disorders.
Escitalopram (Lexapro) – SSRI for depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
Fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent) – Corticosteroid for asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase) – Sulfonylurea for type 2 diabetes.
Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) – Antihistamine for anxiety, nausea, itching, and allergies.
Ibandronate (Boniva) – Bisphosphonate for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Jardiance (Empagliflozin) – SGLT2 inhibitor for type 2 diabetes and heart failure.
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) – Antifungal medication for systemic and topical fungal infections.
Latanoprost (Xalatan) – Prostaglandin analogue for glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat) – Calcium channel blocker for hypertension and angina.
Pregabalin (Lyrica) – Anticonvulsant and neuropathic pain agent.
Quetiapine (Seroquel) – Antipsychotic for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Rifaximin (Xifaxan) – Antibiotic for travelers’ diarrhea and hepatic encephalopathy.
Sumatriptan (Imitrex) – Triptan for acute migraine and cluster headaches.
Tacrolimus (Prograf) – Immunosuppressant for preventing organ transplant rejection.

This list is not exhaustive and serves as a general guide to some of the medications that are commonly tested