PTCB Drug Guide 2025-2026

A Structured System to Quickly Master the Top 200 Medications Names, Classes, Uses, Safety & Key Interactions

Charles Tadelesh Prada

• Publisher: Isohan Publishing
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781923370739
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

Master the PTCB Top 200 Drugs FAST for the 2025-2026 Exam! Your Essential Structured Study Guide.

Preparing for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam requires mastering a vast amount of drug information. Trying to memorize hundreds of names, classes, and uses from simple lists is inefficient and stressful. You need a better way – a structured system that makes learning logical, faster, and more effective.

"PTCB Drug Guide 2025-2026" is your comprehensive solution. This guide moves beyond basic memorization, organizing the Top 200 essential medications by therapeutic class. This proven approach helps you understand families of drugs together, making it easier to remember individual agents and their characteristics.

Inside this essential PTCB prep resource, you will find:

Structured Drug Profiles: Detailed coverage of the Top 200 drugs, including: Brand and Generic Names (Clearly linked) Drug Class (Logically grouped) Primary Uses/Indications (Know why it's prescribed) Key Safety Information (Common side effects, critical warnings) Important Drug Interactions (Recognize potential problems)

Simplified Explanations: Understand core mechanisms without getting lost in complex pharmacology.

Memory Aids: Utilize class suffixes and practical tips to lock in information.

Safety Focus: Dedicated review of Look-Alike/Sound-Alike drugs, NTI medications, critical interactions, and controlled substance basics.

Practice Questions: Test your knowledge with PTCB-style questions and detailed explanations.

Helpful Appendices: Quick reference lists alphabetized by Generic Name, Brand Name, and Therapeutic Class, plus abbreviations and glossary.

This guide is perfect for:

Pharmacy technician students preparing for the 2025-2026 PTCB exam.

Current technicians seeking certification or a knowledge refresher.

Anyone needing a clear, organized way to learn the most common medications.

Don't just memorize – understand. Build the confidence and competence needed to excel on the PTCB exam and perform safely in your pharmacy career. This structured system focuses on the essential knowledge required by the PTCB content outline, helping you study smarter, not harder.

Table of contents

• PTCB Drug Guide 2025-2026
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Pharmacy Foundations Building Blocks for Understanding Drugs
• Part 2: Mastering Drugs by Class
• Chapter 3: Cardiovascular Drugs Part 1: Managing Blood Pressure and Heart Failure
• Drug Class Focus: ACE Inhibitors (-pril)
• Drug Class Focus: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers ARBs (-sartan)
• Drug Class Focus: Beta Blockers (-olol)
• Drug Class Focus: Calcium Channel Blockers CCBs
• Other Antihypertensives
• Chapter 4: Cardiovascular Drugs Part 2: Cholesterol Clots and Rhythm
• Drug Class Focus: Statins (-statin)
• Drug Class Focus: Anticoagulants
• Drug Class Focus: Antiplatelets
• Other Lipid Lowering Agents
• Antiarrhythmics
• Chapter 5: Central Nervous System CNS Drugs Part 1-Mood and Mind
• Drug Class Focus: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors SSRIs
• Drug Class Focus: Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors SNRIs
• Drug Class Focus: Benzodiazepines (-azepam -azolam)
• Drug Class Focus: Antipsychotics
• Drug Class Focus: CNS Stimulants
• Chapter 6: Central Nervous System CNS Drugs Part 2-Pain Seizures Sleep and More
• Drug Class Focus: Opioid Analgesics
• Drug Class Focus: Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs NSAIDs
• Drug Class Focus: Anticonvulsants AEDs
• Drugs for Sleep Hypnotics
• Migraine Medications
• Parkinson's Alzheimer's Drugs
• Chapter 7: Endocrine System Drugs-Diabetes Thyroid and Hormones
• Drug Class Focus: Oral Antidiabetics
• Drug Class Focus: Insulins
• Drug Class Focus: Thyroid Hormones
• Drug Class Focus: Corticosteroids Systemic
• Drug Class Focus: Hormones Contraceptives HRT Other
• Chapter 8: Respiratory & Allergy Drugs: Breathing Easier
• Drug Class Focus: Short Acting Beta Agonists SABAs
• Drug Class Focus: Long-Acting Beta Agonists LABAs Inhaled- Corticosteroids ICS Combinations
• Drug Class Focus: Antihistamines
• Chapter 9: Gastrointestinal GI Drugs Stomach and Bowel Relief
• Drug Class Focus: Proton Pump Inhibitors PPIs (-prazole)
• Drug Class Focus: H2 Receptor Antagonists H2RAs (-tidine)
• Antiemetics Drugs for Nausea Vomiting
• Laxatives Antidiarrheals Managing Bowel Extremes
• Chapter 10: Anti Infective Drugs Fighting Bugs
• Drug Class Focus: Penicillins (-cillin)
• Drug Class Focus: Cephalosporins (Ceph- Cef-)
• Drug Class Focus: Fluoroquinolones (-floxacin)
• Drug Class Focus: Macrolides (-thromycin)
• Drug Class Focus: Tetracyclines (-cycline)
• Drug Class Focus: Antifungals (-azole)
• Drug Class Focus: Antivirals (-vir)
• Chapter 11: Miscellaneous Drugs Eye Drops Topicals Gout and More
• Drug Class Focus: Drugs for Gout
• Drug Class Focus: Muscle Relaxants
• Drug Class Focus: Topical Preparations
• Drug Class Focus: Eye Ear Drops
• Other Important Drugs
• ​Part 3: Putting It All Together
• Chapter 12: High Alert! Key Safety Considerations
• Look Alike Sound Alike LASA Pairs
• Narrow Therapeutic Index NTI Drugs Recap
• Common and Serious Drug Interactions Review
• Focus on Controlled Substances
• Chapter 13: Practice Makes Perfect- Mock Questions 1
• Answer Key with Detailed Explanations
• Chapter 14: Practice Makes Perfect- Mock Questions 2
• Answer Key and Explanations
• Appendix A: Top 200 Drugs Alphabetical by Generic Name
• Appendix B: Top 200 Drugs Alphabetical by Brand Name
• Appendix C: Top 200 Drugs Grouped by Therapeutic Class
• Appendix D: Common Pharmacy Abbreviations and SIG Codes
• Appendix E: Drug Suffix Prefix Cheat Sheet
• Appendix F Glossary of Key Terms
• References