PTCB guide · updated 2026-09-29
Top drugs for the PTCB exam: brand, generic and class
PTCB does not publish a drug list, but area 1.1 of the 2026 outline tests generic names, brand names and classifications, and the Medications domain is 35% of the exam. Learn the most-prescribed drugs as sets of generic name, brand name, class and main use, and learn the name stems that reveal the class.
Why the "top drugs" matter so much
Medications is the largest PTCE domain at 35%, roughly 28 of the 80 scored questions. Area 1.1, generic names, brand names and classifications, is the base for the rest of the domain: you cannot spot a therapeutic duplication (1.2) or an interaction (1.3) if you do not know what class a drug belongs to.
PTCB does not publish an official drug list, so study sets are built around the most commonly dispensed medications in US community pharmacy. Knowing 150 to 200 of them well is a common target. The table below is a starting core, not the whole list.
A core set of brand-generic pairs
Brand names below are the original US brand names. Some brands are no longer widely sold, but exam questions still use them to test the pairing.
| Generic | Brand | Class | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| atorvastatin | Lipitor | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) | High cholesterol |
| rosuvastatin | Crestor | Statin | High cholesterol |
| simvastatin | Zocor | Statin | High cholesterol |
| lisinopril | Zestril | ACE inhibitor | Hypertension, heart failure |
| losartan | Cozaar | Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) | Hypertension |
| amlodipine | Norvasc | Calcium channel blocker | Hypertension, angina |
| metoprolol succinate | Toprol-XL | Beta blocker (extended release) | Hypertension, heart failure |
| metoprolol tartrate | Lopressor | Beta blocker (immediate release) | Hypertension, angina |
| carvedilol | Coreg | Beta blocker (alpha and beta) | Heart failure, hypertension |
| furosemide | Lasix | Loop diuretic | Edema, heart failure |
| metformin | Glucophage | Biguanide | Type 2 diabetes |
| empagliflozin | Jardiance | SGLT2 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes, heart failure |
| insulin glargine | Lantus | Long-acting insulin | Diabetes |
| levothyroxine | Synthroid | Thyroid hormone | Hypothyroidism |
| omeprazole | Prilosec | Proton pump inhibitor | GERD, ulcers |
| pantoprazole | Protonix | Proton pump inhibitor | GERD |
| sertraline | Zoloft | SSRI | Depression, anxiety |
| escitalopram | Lexapro | SSRI | Depression, anxiety |
| bupropion | Wellbutrin | Aminoketone antidepressant | Depression, smoking cessation (as Zyban) |
| gabapentin | Neurontin | Anticonvulsant | Seizures, nerve pain |
| montelukast | Singulair | Leukotriene receptor antagonist | Asthma, allergies |
| albuterol HFA | Ventolin HFA | Short-acting beta-2 agonist | Asthma rescue |
| clopidogrel | Plavix | Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor) | Stroke and MI prevention |
| apixaban | Eliquis | Factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulant | Atrial fibrillation, DVT/PE |
| tamsulosin | Flomax | Alpha-1 blocker | Benign prostatic hyperplasia |
| alprazolam | Xanax | Benzodiazepine (C-IV) | Anxiety, panic disorder |
| zolpidem | Ambien | Sedative-hypnotic (C-IV) | Insomnia |
| hydrocodone/acetaminophen | Norco | Opioid combination (C-II) | Pain |
Name stems that give away the class
Generic names are built from stems, and many exam questions can be answered from the stem alone. These are the ones that pay off most:
| Stem | Class | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -pril | ACE inhibitor | lisinopril, enalapril, benazepril |
| -sartan | Angiotensin II receptor blocker | losartan, valsartan, olmesartan |
| -olol | Beta blocker | metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol |
| -dipine | Calcium channel blocker (dihydropyridine) | amlodipine, nifedipine |
| -statin | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor | atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin |
| -prazole | Proton pump inhibitor | omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole |
| -tidine | H2 receptor antagonist | famotidine, cimetidine |
| -azepam, -azolam | Benzodiazepine | lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam |
| -cillin | Penicillin antibiotic | amoxicillin, penicillin VK |
| -floxacin | Fluoroquinolone antibiotic | ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin |
| -cycline | Tetracycline antibiotic | doxycycline, minocycline |
| -gliflozin | SGLT2 inhibitor | empagliflozin, dapagliflozin |
| -gliptin | DPP-4 inhibitor | sitagliptin, linagliptin |
| -glutide | GLP-1 receptor agonist | semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide |
How to learn them without burning out
- Learn in class groups, not alphabetically. Five statins together stick better than five random drugs.
- For each drug, learn four facts: generic, brand, class, main use. Add the DEA schedule for controlled substances.
- Say the pair both ways. The exam asks brand-to-generic and generic-to-brand.
- Mix in look-alike/sound-alike pairs early, such as hydroxyzine and hydralazine, because area 3.1 tests them too.
- Test yourself daily in short sets. Recognition in a list is not the same as recall under time pressure.
Sample PTCB questions with answers
1. Which of the following is the correct brand name for atorvastatin?
- Crestor
- Zocor
- Lipitor
- Pravachol
Show answer
C. Lipitor Atorvastatin is marketed under the brand name Lipitor and belongs to the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) class used to lower LDL cholesterol. Crestor is the brand name for rosuvastatin, Zocor is for simvastatin, and Pravachol is for pravastatin — all statins, but each is a distinct generic drug.
2. A prescription is written for Glucophage 500 mg twice daily. Which generic drug should the pharmacy technician select from stock?
- Glipizide
- Metformin
- Sitagliptin
- Pioglitazone
Show answer
B. Metformin Glucophage is the brand name for metformin, a biguanide antidiabetic agent and the preferred first-line oral therapy for type 2 diabetes. Glipizide (Glucotrol) is a sulfonylurea, sitagliptin (Januvia) is a DPP-4 inhibitor, and pioglitazone (Actos) is a thiazolidinedione — all are antidiabetic drugs but belong to different classes with different generics.
3. A patient's new prescription is for lisinopril 10 mg for hypertension. Which pharmacological class does lisinopril belong to?
- Beta-adrenergic blocker
- Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
- Calcium channel blocker
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
Show answer
D. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor Lisinopril (brand names Prinivil, Zestril) is an ACE inhibitor that prevents conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, lowering blood pressure and reducing cardiac workload. Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), ARBs (e.g., losartan), and calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine) are distinct antihypertensive classes that work through separate mechanisms.
Frequently asked questions
How many drugs do I need to know for the PTCB?
PTCB does not give a number or a list. Most candidates study the top 150 to 200 dispensed drugs, organized by class.
Are brand names still tested if the brand is discontinued?
Questions test the knowledge area, which includes brand names. Well-known original brand names remain a common way to test the pairing.
Try the free PTCB practice test
Questions tagged to the official outline, with an explanation for every answer. 15 free a day, no sign-up.
Start freeSources: PTCE Content Outline v1.4 (effective Jan 6, 2026). Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by PTCB.
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