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Top 100 Pharmacology Drugs (NCLEX Study Guide)
2026,
1. Pain & Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Drug Key Use Key Nursing Point
Morphine Severe pain Monitor respiratory depression
Acetaminophen Pain / fever Liver toxicity risk
Ibuprofen Pain / inflammation GI bleeding risk
Short-term severe
Ketorolac Max 5 days
pain
Tramadol Moderate pain Seizure risk
Avoid in children (Reye
Aspirin Pain / antiplatelet
syndrome)
2. Cardiovascular Drugs
Drug Class Key Nursing Point
Lisinopril ACE inhibitor Watch dry cough
Losartan ARB Monitor potassium
Metoprolol Beta blocker Check heart rate
Atenolol Beta blocker Bradycardia risk
Calcium channel
Amlodipine Edema common
blocker
Calcium channel
Nifedipine Hypotension
blocker
Furosemide Loop diuretic Low potassium
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Drug Class Key Nursing Point
Hydrochlorothiazide Thiazide diuretic Hypokalemia
Potassium-sparing
Spironolactone High potassium
diuretic
Toxicity signs: nausea,
Digoxin Cardiac glycoside
vision
Nitroglycerin Nitrate Headache common
Heparin Anticoagulant Monitor aPTT
Warfarin Anticoagulant Monitor INR
Enoxaparin LMWH Watch bleeding
Clopidogrel Antiplatelet Bleeding risk
Atorvastatin Statin Muscle pain → report
Simvastatin Statin Liver monitoring
3. Antibiotics
Drug Class Key Nursing Point
Amoxicillin Penicillin Allergy check
Ampicillin Penicillin Rash common
Piperacillin-tazobactam Broad spectrum Severe infection
Ceftriaxone Cephalosporin No calcium with neonates
Cephalexin Cephalosporin Cross-allergy
Azithromycin Macrolide QT prolongation
Clarithromycin Macrolide Drug interactions
Ciprofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Tendon rupture risk
Levofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Avoid in children
Vancomycin Glycopeptide Red man syndrome
Gentamicin Aminoglycoside Kidney toxicity
Tetracycline Tetracycline Teeth discoloration
Doxycycline Tetracycline Photosensitivity
Top 100 Pharmacology Drugs (NCLEX Study Guide)
2026,
1. Pain & Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Drug Key Use Key Nursing Point
Morphine Severe pain Monitor respiratory depression
Acetaminophen Pain / fever Liver toxicity risk
Ibuprofen Pain / inflammation GI bleeding risk
Short-term severe
Ketorolac Max 5 days
pain
Tramadol Moderate pain Seizure risk
Avoid in children (Reye
Aspirin Pain / antiplatelet
syndrome)
2. Cardiovascular Drugs
Drug Class Key Nursing Point
Lisinopril ACE inhibitor Watch dry cough
Losartan ARB Monitor potassium
Metoprolol Beta blocker Check heart rate
Atenolol Beta blocker Bradycardia risk
Calcium channel
Amlodipine Edema common
blocker
Calcium channel
Nifedipine Hypotension
blocker
Furosemide Loop diuretic Low potassium
, 2|Page
Drug Class Key Nursing Point
Hydrochlorothiazide Thiazide diuretic Hypokalemia
Potassium-sparing
Spironolactone High potassium
diuretic
Toxicity signs: nausea,
Digoxin Cardiac glycoside
vision
Nitroglycerin Nitrate Headache common
Heparin Anticoagulant Monitor aPTT
Warfarin Anticoagulant Monitor INR
Enoxaparin LMWH Watch bleeding
Clopidogrel Antiplatelet Bleeding risk
Atorvastatin Statin Muscle pain → report
Simvastatin Statin Liver monitoring
3. Antibiotics
Drug Class Key Nursing Point
Amoxicillin Penicillin Allergy check
Ampicillin Penicillin Rash common
Piperacillin-tazobactam Broad spectrum Severe infection
Ceftriaxone Cephalosporin No calcium with neonates
Cephalexin Cephalosporin Cross-allergy
Azithromycin Macrolide QT prolongation
Clarithromycin Macrolide Drug interactions
Ciprofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Tendon rupture risk
Levofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Avoid in children
Vancomycin Glycopeptide Red man syndrome
Gentamicin Aminoglycoside Kidney toxicity
Tetracycline Tetracycline Teeth discoloration
Doxycycline Tetracycline Photosensitivity
