Educational exam prep, not medical advice. This page teaches what certification exams test. Follow your facility’s policies, your supervising clinician and the manufacturer’s instructions in practice. If you are a patient with a health question, talk to your clinician or see MedlinePlus.
Commonly prescribed drugs
| Generic | Brand | Class | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| atorvastatin | Lipitor | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) | High cholesterol |
| levothyroxine | Synthroid | Thyroid hormone | Hypothyroidism |
| lisinopril | Zestril, Prinivil | ACE inhibitor | Hypertension, heart failure |
| metformin | Glucophage | Biguanide | Type 2 diabetes |
| amlodipine | Norvasc | Calcium channel blocker | Hypertension, angina |
| metoprolol | Lopressor, Toprol XL | Beta blocker | Hypertension, angina, heart failure |
| omeprazole | Prilosec | Proton pump inhibitor | GERD, ulcers |
| losartan | Cozaar | Angiotensin II receptor blocker | Hypertension |
| albuterol | ProAir, Ventolin | Short-acting beta-2 agonist | Asthma, COPD (rescue) |
| gabapentin | Neurontin | Anticonvulsant | Seizures, nerve pain |
| hydrochlorothiazide | Microzide | Thiazide diuretic | Hypertension, edema |
| sertraline | Zoloft | SSRI | Depression, anxiety |
| montelukast | Singulair | Leukotriene receptor antagonist | Asthma, allergies |
| escitalopram | Lexapro | SSRI | Depression, anxiety |
| rosuvastatin | Crestor | Statin | High cholesterol |
| bupropion | Wellbutrin | Aminoketone antidepressant | Depression, smoking cessation |
| furosemide | Lasix | Loop diuretic | Edema, heart failure |
| pantoprazole | Protonix | Proton pump inhibitor | GERD |
| trazodone | Desyrel | Antidepressant (SARI) | Depression |
| tamsulosin | Flomax | Alpha-1 blocker | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| fluoxetine | Prozac | SSRI | Depression, OCD |
| carvedilol | Coreg | Beta blocker (alpha/beta) | Heart failure, hypertension |
| duloxetine | Cymbalta | SNRI | Depression, nerve pain |
| meloxicam | Mobic | NSAID | Arthritis |
| clopidogrel | Plavix | Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor) | Prevent clots after MI/stroke |
| prednisone | Deltasone (brand discontinued) | Corticosteroid | Inflammation |
| insulin glargine | Lantus | Long-acting insulin | Diabetes |
| tramadol | Ultram | Opioid analgesic (C-IV) | Pain |
| apixaban | Eliquis | Factor Xa inhibitor | Prevent clots, AFib stroke prevention |
| warfarin | Jantoven | Vitamin K antagonist | Prevent clots |
| glipizide | Glucotrol | Sulfonylurea | Type 2 diabetes |
| spironolactone | Aldactone | Potassium-sparing diuretic | Heart failure, edema |
| allopurinol | Zyloprim | Xanthine oxidase inhibitor | Gout |
| amoxicillin | Amoxil | Penicillin antibiotic | Bacterial infections |
| azithromycin | Zithromax | Macrolide antibiotic | Bacterial infections |
| alprazolam | Xanax | Benzodiazepine (C-IV) | Anxiety, panic disorder |
| zolpidem | Ambien | Sedative-hypnotic (C-IV) | Insomnia |
| hydrocodone/acetaminophen | Norco | Opioid combination (C-II) | Pain |
| amphetamine/dextroamphetamine | Adderall | CNS stimulant (C-II) | ADHD |
| empagliflozin | Jardiance | SGLT2 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes, heart failure |
| semaglutide | Ozempic | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Type 2 diabetes |
Suffixes that reveal the class
| Suffix | Class | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -pril | ACE inhibitor | lisinopril |
| -sartan | ARB | losartan |
| -olol / -ilol | Beta blocker | metoprolol, carvedilol |
| -dipine | Calcium channel blocker | amlodipine |
| -statin | Statin | atorvastatin |
| -prazole | Proton pump inhibitor | omeprazole |
| -tidine | H2 blocker | famotidine |
| -gliflozin | SGLT2 inhibitor | empagliflozin |
| -glutide | GLP-1 agonist | semaglutide |
| -gliptin | DPP-4 inhibitor | sitagliptin |
| -azepam / -azolam | Benzodiazepine | lorazepam, alprazolam |
| -cillin | Penicillin | amoxicillin |
| -floxacin | Fluoroquinolone | ciprofloxacin |
| -cycline | Tetracycline | doxycycline |
| -xaban | Factor Xa inhibitor | apixaban |
How it is tested
Expect brand-to-generic matching, class identification, indications, common side effects and storage. Controlled-substance schedules for drugs like alprazolam (C-IV) and hydrocodone combinations (C-II) cross over into pharmacy law.
Test yourself on the PTCB
Take the free practice test and get a score report by topic in a few minutes.
Drill every drug in the full PTCB bank
All-access is $29/month (cancel anytime) or $59 for 90 days with no auto-renew. Full original question banks, timed practice exams and score reports by domain.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to memorize the top 200 drugs for the PTCB?
The outline tests generic/brand names, classes and indications broadly; the most-prescribed 100-200 drugs are the practical study set.
What is the brand name of atorvastatin?
Lipitor.
What class is lisinopril?
An ACE inhibitor - the -pril suffix gives it away.
Sources
- PTCB - PTCE Content Outline effective January 6, 2026 (accessed 2026-09-23)
- NLM DailyMed - FDA drug labeling (accessed 2026-09-23)
- ClinCalc DrugStats - Top 300 drugs by US prescriptions (accessed 2026-09-23)