List of drugs
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Comprehensive Overview of Drug Lists and Classifications
Alphabetical List of Drugs
The "List of Drugs" provides an extensive alphabetical compilation of numerous drugs by their generic names. This list includes trade names, manufacturers, and occasional notes to facilitate the recognition of these drugs. However, it does not cover all trade names or manufacturers in cases where multiple exist1.
WHO Model List of Essential Drugs
The World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Drugs, often referred to as the "Essential Drugs List," serves as a guideline for countries to determine the essential pharmaceuticals needed for basic health care. This list is updated biennially and includes many antimicrobials due to the global prevalence of infections. The list is a model and should be adapted to meet the specific needs of different countries2 4.
Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) and WHO Essential Medicines
The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) is a crucial tool for regulating drug products globally. A study classified 130 orally administered drugs on the WHO Essential Medicines list based on their solubility and permeability. The findings revealed that 21 drugs belong to Class I (highly soluble, highly permeable), 10 to Class II (poorly soluble, highly permeable), 24 to Class III (highly soluble, poorly permeable), and 6 to Class IV (poorly soluble, poorly permeable)3 8.
Changes in the WHO Essential Drug List
Between 1977 and 1990, the WHO Essential Drug List saw an increase in the number of items from 205 to 268, with 120 drugs added and 57 deleted. Most additions were due to changes in the perception of a drug's usefulness rather than scientific advancements. Despite these changes, the list remains a valuable guide for countries in selecting their national essential drug lists4.
Historical Drug Lists from Medieval Cairo
In medieval Cairo, pharmacy was a prominent branch of the healing arts within the Jewish community. The Genizah manuscripts revealed 71 original drug lists, which included 206 different drugs, predominantly of plant origin. These lists were used by pharmacists for inventory and business purposes, providing a unique insight into medieval practical pharmacy5.
Universal List of Drugs with Anticholinergic Activity
A universal pharmacological-based list of drugs with anticholinergic activity was developed, identifying 133 drugs with documented affinity for muscarinic receptors. This list aims to address gaps in anticholinergic burden tools and improve their predictive ability for clinical outcomes6.
Physicochemical Properties and Biotransformation of Top Prescribed Drugs
A systematic review compared the top 200 most prescribed drugs with newly approved drugs by the FDA between 2005 and 2016. The study highlighted trends in routes of administration, physicochemical properties, and the role of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Notably, there was an increase in biologics and hydrophilic drugs among newly approved medications, suggesting a potential decrease in toxicity7.
The "100 List" of Essential Drugs
The "100 List" of drugs includes 100 important medications that every physician should know. This list covers a wide range of medical fields and emphasizes the use of inexpensive generic drugs to facilitate prescriptions in resource-poor countries. It includes drugs for emergencies, acute, short-term, and long-term use, and highlights 20 essential drugs for various medical conditions9.
Provisional Biopharmaceutical Classification of Top Oral Drugs
A provisional classification of the top 200 oral drug products in the US, Great Britain, Spain, and Japan was conducted based on the BCS. The study found that more than 55% of these drugs were high-solubility (Class 1 and Class 3), suggesting that in vivo bioequivalence could be assured with in vitro dissolution tests10.
Conclusion
The various drug lists and classifications provide essential insights into the selection, regulation, and practical use of pharmaceuticals. From the WHO Essential Drugs List to historical inventories and modern biopharmaceutical classifications, these resources are invaluable for ensuring the availability and efficacy of medications across different regions and time periods.
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List of Drugs
The numerous drugs referred to in this issue are listed here alphabetically by generic name. Trade names, manufacturers, and occasional notes should facilitate recognition of these drugs. In the case of multiple trade names, multiple manufacturers, or both, all may not be included.
The WHO model list of essential drugs.
The WHO Model List of Essential Drugs is a model for establishing national essential drug programs, with many antimicrobials included.
Classification of orally administered drugs on the World Health Organization Model list of Essential Medicines according to the biopharmaceutics classification system.
This study identified 32 class I drugs on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, which can potentially be considered for biowaiver status based on dissolution tests.
Highly CitedChanges in the World Health Organisation essential drug list
The World Health Organization essential drug list has increased from 205 to 268 over the past 30 years, with 120 new drugs and 57 deleted, but only 16 new clinical entities or indications.
Observational StudyDrugs held and sold by pharmacists of the Jewish community of medieval (11-14th centuries) Cairo according to lists of materia medica found at the Taylor-Schechter Genizah collection, Cambridge.
Medieval Jewish pharmacies in Cairo stocked 266 drugs, 167 of which were plant-based, with myrobalan, pepper, and saffron being the most common substances.
A Universal Pharmacological-Based List of Drugs with Anticholinergic Activity
A universal pharmacological-based list of 133 drugs with anticholinergic activity has been developed, based on their documented affinity for muscarinic receptors and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Literature ReviewPhysicochemical Properties, Biotransformation, and Transport Pathways of Established and Newly Approved Medications: A Systematic Review of the Top 200 Most Prescribed Drugs vs. the FDA-Approved Drugs Between 2005 and 2016
Newly approved drugs have a higher portion of biologics and hydrophilic compounds, suggesting a potential increase in toxicity.
Literature ReviewHighly CitedMolecular properties of WHO essential drugs and provisional biopharmaceutical classification.
High-solubility drugs on the WHO Essential Drug List can be reliably classified using in vitro dissolution tests, ensuring clinical performance of these products.
Highly CitedThe “100 List” of Drugs
This chapter highlights 100 important drugs for every physician to know, covering various indications and medical fields, with 20 drugs every physician should prescribe for medical emergencies, hypertension, GI diseases, asthma, migraine, depression, type I allergies, pain, and some bacterial infections.
A provisional biopharmaceutical classification of the top 200 oral drug products in the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and Japan.
More than 55% of oral drug products in the top 200 in the US, UK, Spain, and Japan are classified as high-solubility drugs, suggesting in vivo bioequivalence can be assured with a less expensive in vitro dissolution test.
Highly Cited