Understand your medication — in plain language.

metformin hydrochloride

First-line oral medication for type 2 diabetes.

lisinopril

Lowers blood pressure and protects heart and kidneys.

atorvastatin

Lowers LDL cholesterol and reduces cardiovascular events.

simvastatin

Older statin for cholesterol lowering, taken in the evening.

rosuvastatin

High-intensity statin for substantial LDL lowering.

amoxicillin

Broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic for common bacterial infections.

ibuprofen

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain and fever reliever.

acetaminophen

Widely used pain and fever reliever, safe in most patients at correct doses.

amlodipine besylate

Once-daily blood pressure and angina medication.

losartan potassium

Alternative to ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and kidney protection.

salbutamol

Quick-relief inhaler that opens airways during asthma symptoms.

warfarin sodium

Long-standing oral anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clots.

omeprazole

Reduces stomach acid for reflux, ulcers and gastritis.

pantoprazole

Acid-suppressant for GORD, peptic ulcer disease and gastroprotection.

esomeprazole

S-isomer of omeprazole with marginally greater acid suppression.

levothyroxine sodium

Synthetic thyroid hormone for an underactive thyroid.

sertraline

First-line SSRI for depression and anxiety disorders.

citalopram

SSRI for depression and anxiety with dose limits for QT safety.

bisoprolol fumarate

Slows heart rate and reduces strain for heart failure, AF and angina.

apixaban

Twice-daily anticoagulant for AF stroke prevention and VTE.

gabapentin

Used for nerve pain and as add-on for focal seizures.

prednisolone

Broad anti-inflammatory used for flares of many inflammatory conditions.

furosemide

Powerful diuretic used in heart failure and fluid overload.

clopidogrel

Reduces clot formation after stents, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.

insulin glargine

Once-daily basal insulin for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

tamsulosin

Relieves urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

azithromycin

Short-course antibiotic for respiratory, skin and some STIs.

acetylsalicylic acid

Low-dose for cardiovascular protection; analgesic and anti-inflammatory at higher doses.

carvedilol

Improves survival in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

hydrochlorothiazide

Long-standing thiazide diuretic for hypertension and mild fluid retention.

spironolactone

Improves survival in heart failure and treats resistant hypertension, acne and primary aldosteronism.

rivaroxaban

Once-daily oral anticoagulant for AF, VTE prevention and treatment.

empagliflozin

Lowers glucose, improves heart failure and kidney outcomes regardless of diabetes status.

dapagliflozin

Glucose-lowering tablet with proven cardiovascular, heart failure and kidney benefits.

semaglutide

Weekly injection (or daily tablet) for type 2 diabetes and weight management with cardiovascular benefit.

budesonide / formoterol fumarate

Combination inhaler used as maintenance and (in MART regimens) reliever therapy in asthma and COPD.

ciprofloxacin

Broad-spectrum antibiotic reserved for specific infections due to serious safety warnings.

doxycycline

Broad-spectrum tetracycline for respiratory, skin, STI and tick-borne infections.

metronidazole

First-line for anaerobic bacterial and several protozoal infections.

fluconazole

Oral antifungal for candidiasis (thrush) and selected systemic fungal infections.

naproxen

Long-acting NSAID for musculoskeletal pain, inflammation and dysmenorrhoea.

fluoxetine

Long-half-life SSRI for depression, anxiety, OCD, bulimia and (in adolescents) PMDD.

escitalopram

S-enantiomer of citalopram used for depression and several anxiety disorders.

amitriptyline

Older antidepressant now used mainly at low dose for neuropathic pain, migraine prophylaxis and insomnia.

ethinylestradiol + progestogen

Daily oestrogen + progestogen pill for contraception and cycle control.

progesterone

Body-identical progestogen used in HRT and selected fertility/pregnancy support.

medroxyprogesterone acetate

Synthetic progestogen used for contraception (depot), HRT and endometrial conditions.

estradiol (17β-estradiol)

Body-identical oestrogen for menopausal symptom relief and HRT.

famotidine

H2 blocker used for dyspepsia, GORD and ulcer healing when PPIs are unsuitable.

ondansetron

Antiemetic for chemotherapy, post-operative and severe pregnancy nausea.

cetirizine

Once-daily non-sedating antihistamine for allergic rhinitis and urticaria.

loratadine

Non-sedating once-daily antihistamine for allergic rhinitis and urticaria.

fexofenadine

Minimally sedating antihistamine; useful for severe urticaria where higher doses are needed.

hydrocortisone 1% cream / ointment

Mild topical steroid for eczema, dermatitis and insect bites.

clotrimazole

Topical antifungal for skin and vaginal candidiasis and tinea.

mupirocin

Topical antibiotic for impetigo and MRSA nasal decolonisation.

duloxetine

SNRI for depression, generalised anxiety, neuropathic pain and stress urinary incontinence.

venlafaxine

SNRI for depression and anxiety; often used after SSRI failure.

pregabalin

Used for neuropathic pain, generalised anxiety and focal epilepsy; controlled drug.

levetiracetam

Broad-spectrum antiepileptic used for focal and generalised seizures.

tiotropium bromide

Once-daily inhaled bronchodilator for COPD and selected severe asthma.

digoxin

Narrow-therapeutic-index drug for rate control in AF and selected heart failure.

sacubitril + valsartan (Entresto)

First-line replacement for ACE inhibitor/ARB in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

eplerenone

Selective MRA used after MI and in heart failure when spironolactone causes side effects.

insulin aspart

Mealtime rapid-acting insulin (NovoRapid/Fiasp) for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

insulin lispro

Mealtime rapid-acting insulin (Humalog/Lyumjev) with similar profile to aspart.

sitagliptin

Weight-neutral oral glucose-lowering tablet with low hypoglycaemia risk.

gliclazide

Insulin-stimulating tablet that effectively lowers glucose but carries hypoglycaemia and weight gain risk.

amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (Augmentin)

Broad-spectrum penicillin combination for resistant or polymicrobial infections.

nitrofurantoin

First-line antibiotic for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection.

valaciclovir

Oral antiviral for herpes simplex and herpes zoster; prodrug of aciclovir.

oseltamivir

Oral antiviral for influenza; greatest benefit when started early.

mirtazapine

Sedating antidepressant useful when sleep, appetite or weight loss are prominent.

quetiapine

Atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and adjunctive depression.

olanzapine

Effective antipsychotic with the highest metabolic risk in its class.

methotrexate

First-line DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis; weekly dosing only.

hydroxychloroquine

Mild DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus; needs eye monitoring.

allopurinol

First-line urate-lowering treatment for gout and prevention of urate nephropathy.

carbamazepine

Anticonvulsant and first-line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.

lamotrigine

Broad-spectrum antiepileptic and bipolar mood stabiliser with critical slow-titration to avoid serious rash.