There are a total of 977 Medications that have been compiled and organized in this comprehensive list. The selection includes established, approved generic medicines and commonly used brand names, and excludes experimental or withdrawn drugs.

Medications are substances used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or manage health conditions and symptoms. They range from over-the-counter pain relievers to complex biologic therapies and vaccines. Many have defined mechanisms of action, standard dosing forms, and known side-effect profiles. They are essential to individual care and to public health efforts worldwide.

Interesting and little-known facts about Medications:
– The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines contains roughly 500 core medicines used globally.
– In the U.S., generic medicines account for about 90% of prescription fills by volume, lowering overall costs.
– International Nonproprietary Name (INN) stems signal drug class, for example “-mab” for monoclonal antibodies and “-pril” for ACE inhibitors.
– Penicillin was discovered in 1928 and its mass use in the 1940s launched the modern antibiotic era, dramatically reducing infection deaths.
– Some drugs were repurposed by chance—sildenafil was initially studied for angina before its effect on erectile dysfunction was discovered.

The alphabetical index below directs users to A–Z lists of medications by generic name. Each entry shows generic name, common brand names, drug class, typical uses/indications, common side effects, dosage forms, mechanism of action, and regulatory status.

Last updated: September 28, 2025.
Medical disclaimer: Informational only; not a substitute for professional medical advice.