Clinical resource

The Med List

The medications worth knowing — and what actually matters clinically.

FNP CREATED | EVIDENCE-BACKED

How to use The Med List

Start with the indication, then connect mechanism, monitoring, interactions and the high-consequence miss. This web resource is an educational clinical refresher, not a substitute for patient-specific judgment, local protocols or current prescribing guidance.

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Cardiovascular

ACE inhibitors / ARBs / ARNI

lisinopril · losartan · sacubitril/valsartan

Why you see it: HTN; HFrEF; CKD with albuminuria; post-MI in selected patients.
Monitor / watch for: BP · K+ · SCr/eGFR. Watch for hyperkalemia, creatinine rise, hypotension and angioedema.
CWB connection: Do not give an ARNI within 36 hours of an ACE inhibitor.

Beta blockers / calcium channel blockers

metoprolol succinate · carvedilol · amlodipine · diltiazem · verapamil

Why you see it: HF; AF/rate control; CAD/angina; selected HTN.
Monitor / watch for: HR · BP · symptoms; ECG when indicated. Watch bradycardia, hypotension and AV block.
CWB connection: Metoprolol succinate—not tartrate—is the HFrEF evidence-based formulation.

Diuretics / MRAs

furosemide · torsemide · chlorthalidone · spironolactone · finerenone

Why you see it: Volume overload/HF; HTN; edema; CKD with albuminuria.
Monitor / watch for: Weight · BP · volume · Na/K/Mg · SCr/eGFR.
CWB connection: ACEI/ARB + MRA + potassium supplement or TMP-SMX can become a hyperkalemia setup.

Nitrates / antiarrhythmics

nitroglycerin · isosorbide · digoxin · amiodarone · sotalol

Why you see it: Angina; selected HF regimens; AF rhythm/rate strategies.
Monitor / watch for: BP · ECG/QTc · K/Mg · renal/hepatic function.
CWB connection: Nitrates + PDE-5 inhibitors can cause profound hypotension.

Lipids & thrombosis

Lipid lowering

atorvastatin · rosuvastatin · ezetimibe · PCSK9 agents

Why you see it: ASCVD risk reduction; severe hypercholesterolemia; selected hypertriglyceridemia.
Monitor / watch for: Lipid panel · symptoms · LFTs when indicated.
CWB connection: Think statin intensity and LDL-C reduction—not merely “on a statin.”

Antiplatelets / anticoagulants

aspirin · clopidogrel · apixaban · warfarin · heparin

Why you see it: ACS; PCI/stents; AF stroke prevention; VTE treatment/prevention.
Monitor / watch for: Bleeding signs · CBC · renal/hepatic function · INR for warfarin.
CWB connection: Confirm why dual antiplatelet therapy is present before changing it.

Diabetes & metabolic

Metformin / SGLT2 inhibitors

metformin · empagliflozin · dapagliflozin

Why you see it: T2D; HF; CKD; selected prediabetes/PCOS contexts.
Monitor / watch for: eGFR · volume status · B12 · glycemic markers.
CWB connection: SGLT2-associated DKA can occur without marked hyperglycemia.

GLP-1-based therapy / other oral agents

semaglutide · tirzepatide · sitagliptin · glipizide · pioglitazone

Why you see it: T2D; obesity; individualized add-on options.
Monitor / watch for: Weight · glycemia · renal function with significant GI losses · volume status with pioglitazone.
CWB connection: Do not combine DPP-4 inhibitors with GLP-1–based therapy for added glucose lowering.

Insulin / hypoglycemia rescue

glargine · lispro · NPH · glucagon · IV dextrose

Why you see it: T1D; insulin-requiring T2D; acute hyperglycemia; severe hypoglycemia.
Monitor / watch for: Glucose/CGM · A1C · technique · K+ with IV hyperkalemia treatment.
CWB connection: Treating the number is only step one—long-acting agents can cause recurrence.

Renal, respiratory & GI

Potassium / magnesium / hyperkalemia agents

potassium chloride · magnesium oxide · patiromer · sodium zirconium cyclosilicate

Why you see it: Electrolyte replacement; chronic or subacute potassium lowering.
Monitor / watch for: K+ · Mg · renal function · ECG when severe.
CWB connection: Never give IV potassium as a rapid IV push.

Bronchodilators / inhaled corticosteroids

albuterol · tiotropium · budesonide · fluticasone

Why you see it: Asthma/COPD rescue, maintenance and controller therapy.
Monitor / watch for: Symptoms · rescue use · HR · inhaler technique · oral cavity.
CWB connection: LABA monotherapy is not appropriate asthma controller therapy without ICS.

Acid suppression / antiemetics

omeprazole · famotidine · ondansetron · metoclopramide

Why you see it: GERD; ulcer disease; nausea/vomiting; gastroparesis.
Monitor / watch for: Indication/duration · Mg/B12 when appropriate · ECG/electrolytes when QT risk matters.
CWB connection: A PPI on a med list should trigger: what is the indication, and does it still exist?

Infectious disease

Penicillins / cephalosporins / carbapenems

amoxicillin · piperacillin/tazobactam · ceftriaxone · cefepime · meropenem

Why you see it: Respiratory, skin, urinary, intra-abdominal and severe gram-negative infections.
Monitor / watch for: Renal function · cultures · allergy history · neurologic status with cefepime.
CWB connection: A penicillin allergy label deserves clarification: reaction, timing and severity matter.

Macrolides / tetracyclines / fluoroquinolones

azithromycin · doxycycline · ciprofloxacin · levofloxacin

Why you see it: Atypical respiratory pathogens and agent-specific infections.
Monitor / watch for: Renal function · QT/electrolytes · interactions.
CWB connection: Moxifloxacin is not a UTI fluoroquinolone.

TMP-SMX / resistant gram-positive therapy

TMP-SMX · nitrofurantoin · vancomycin · linezolid · daptomycin

Why you see it: UTI, MRSA and resistant gram-positive infections.
Monitor / watch for: Renal function · K+ with TMP-SMX · CBC · CK · vancomycin exposure.
CWB connection: Daptomycin is inactivated by pulmonary surfactant—do not use it for pneumonia.

Pain, neuro & psychiatry

Acetaminophen / NSAIDs / opioids

acetaminophen · ibuprofen · ketorolac · oxycodone · fentanyl · naloxone

Why you see it: Pain, fever, inflammation and opioid reversal.
Monitor / watch for: Total acetaminophen exposure · renal function/BP · sedation/respiratory status.
CWB connection: NSAID + ACEI/ARB + diuretic = high-risk AKI combination.

Neuropathic pain / antiseizure medications

gabapentin · duloxetine · baclofen · levetiracetam · lamotrigine · valproate

Why you see it: Neuropathic pain; epilepsy; migraine; neuralgia.
Monitor / watch for: Renal function · sedation/falls · CBC/LFTs · sodium · drug-specific levels.
CWB connection: Stopping antiseizure medication abruptly can be dangerous.

SSRIs / benzodiazepines / antipsychotics

sertraline · duloxetine · lorazepam · lithium · quetiapine · haloperidol

Why you see it: Depression, anxiety, bipolar and psychotic disorders.
Monitor / watch for: Mood · Na · sedation/falls · renal/thyroid function · metabolic measures · ECG.
CWB connection: Opioid + benzodiazepine is a high-risk combination.

Endocrine, hormones & immunology

Thyroid / corticosteroids / bone & gout

levothyroxine · methimazole · prednisone · alendronate · allopurinol

Why you see it: Thyroid disease; inflammatory disease; fracture prevention; gout.
Monitor / watch for: TSH/free T4 · glucose · BP · infection · Ca/Vit D · renal function.
CWB connection: Levothyroxine absorption is disrupted by calcium, iron and food timing.

Contraception / BPH / PDE-5

combined estrogen-progestin · tamsulosin · finasteride · sildenafil

Why you see it: Contraception, menopausal therapy, LUTS and erectile dysfunction.
Monitor / watch for: BP · pregnancy status · VTE risk · urinary retention · PSA interpretation.
CWB connection: Nitrates + sildenafil/tadalafil are a dangerous combination.

DMARDs / biologics / transplant immunosuppression

methotrexate · adalimumab · tofacitinib · tacrolimus · mycophenolate

Why you see it: Autoimmune disease, severe inflammatory disease and organ rejection prevention.
Monitor / watch for: CBC/LFTs · TB/hepatitis screening · drug levels · renal function · K/Mg.
CWB connection: Rheumatologic methotrexate is typically weekly—not daily.

High-acuity medications

ACLS core / pressors / rescue

epinephrine · amiodarone · adenosine · norepinephrine · vitamin K · protamine

Why you see it: Cardiac arrest, shock, selected tachyarrhythmias and physiologic rescue.
Monitor / watch for: Continuous ECG/hemodynamics · MAP · perfusion · repeat labs and drug timing.
CWB connection: A normal BP on escalating pressors does not equal resolved shock.

Combinations worth seeing

ACEI/ARB + diuretic + NSAID

AKI risk can rise quickly.

ACEI/ARB/MRA + potassium or TMP-SMX

Hyperkalemia risk stacks.

Warfarin + TMP-SMX / metronidazole / amiodarone

INR can rise substantially.

Opioid + benzodiazepine/gabapentinoid

Additive sedation and respiratory depression.

SGLT2 inhibitor + fasting/acute illness

Euglycemic ketoacidosis can occur.